Tommie Humphries' Obituary
Tommie was born into this world on Thursday, May 19, 1927, as Tommy Louise Davis. It is said that her grandfather, the Reverand Thomas Sallee was insisting that one of his grandchildren be named after him – hence “Tommy” – (she later legally changed her name to “Tommie,” although her husband often affectionately referred to her as “Thomas”). She was the youngest of three daughters born to Emily Elizabeth and Duke Marion Davis. Her sisters were Muriel Elizabeth and Vivian Lorraine.
Tommie grew up without a lot of the material things of life. Due to the scarcity of work during the Great Depression, they moved often. Some of her houses had no electricity or running water. She and her sisters would play with paper dolls cut out of the Sears and Roebuck catalog.
Her father, after serving in WW1 as a captain, worked finish carpentry jobs which caused him to be away from home often depending on the jobs he could find. She loved to tag along when she could. Tommie would hand him nails, or shingles or whatever she could do to help. He taught her how to ride a horse and milk a cow. She was unquestionably a daddy’s girl. One of her rare favorite treats was when her father would take her to the store and share an RC Cola with her.
Her mother was a hard worker and firm, but always seemed to speak with a soft calm voice. She loved music and bird watching and taught Tommie how to make a whistle out of a blade of grass held in her hand.
Tommie was 14 years old when Pearl Harbor was attacked, and World War II changed the nation and the world. This developed a lifelong loyalty in her to her country that became a permanent part of her. Self-described as a flag-waving patriot, she flew her flags at her home daily. Born in Dallas, she was a Texan too and proud of it. She was known to stop at residences that were flying the Texas flag upside down (the red band at the top instead of the white one) and ask if they were in distress. If you were going to fly the Texas flag, you better fly it correctly!
Tommie began working after high school in accounting and auditing jobs. She passed the civil service test and worked at the Naval Air Station between Dallas and Fort Worth for 4 years in the clothing supply department. Because of a photograph of her picking flowers there, she became known as “the flower girl of the Naval Station.”
She had several invitations to marry. But one young man stood out above the rest - Lloyd Humphries. She met him at the roller rink, but later, on their first date, he hardly said 5 words to her. But he was confident and a good dresser. After 4 years of dating, they were engaged and married on June 26, 1953.
Children soon followed – Gary, Larry, Mary, and Terry. Due to Lloyd’s traveling weekly for work, Tommie had most of the daily responsibility of raising the kids. When Lloyd was home, she always cooked a big, proper meal. But since she didn’t particularly enjoy cooking, when he was away, the kids got to eat their favorite meals for dinner – hamburgers, French toast, chicken pot pies and so on.
Tommie always loved sports. She played volleyball in high school enjoyed playing it at church and at the lake with her family. Even into her nineties, if you opened the trunk of her car, inside she had a volleyball and a net just in case a game might break out somewhere. At 70 she was still water skiing. She participated in bowling leagues well into her mid-80s. And she loved to dance.
Throughout her life, Tommie had a strong belief in God. As a young child, even when no one else would go, Tommie went to church. Her mother would send her sisters to walk with her to make sure that she arrived at church unharmed, but they wouldn’t stay. Tommie, however, stayed.
When Lloyd and Tommie were dating, Lloyd asked her to attend church with him. Finally, she was not going alone. She liked what was being taught and felt that the Lord was answering her prayers. On January 3, 1953, she joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was baptized in the newly built chapel on Turtle Creek Blvd in Dallas – the first person baptized in the new font. After her marriage to Lloyd, they were sealed for time and all eternity on April 11, 1956, in the Salt Lake City Temple.
Tommie was an active member of the church for the remainder of her life. She served as a teacher and leader in the Primary (the children’s organization) for her first 13 years as a member. After that, and for many of her later years, she served as a leader in the Young Women organization at both the ward and stake levels.
When the Dallas Texas Temple was built, Tommie began to serve as a temple worker one night every week. She continued that service in the temple for over 20 years.
Tommie was fiercely devoted and loyal to her family and friends. Christmas was a favorite time of year when her family would gather to celebrate the good news of the Savior’s birth. It is only fitting that this was the time she was taken home to be reunited with her family on the other side of the veil. After almost a century of Christ-like service, her influence will be felt for generations.
She is survived by her four children – Gary Humphries (Leslie), Larry Humphries (Jeannette), Mary Rosendahl (Jay), Terry Humphries; 15 Grandchildren, 5 Step Grandchildren, 44 Great Grandchildren, and 23 Step Great Grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1404 E Main St, Allen, TX 75002 on Thursday, January 2 at 1PM.
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