HUMPHREY, Leona V.

The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ September 22, 1993. Leona V. Humphrey of Mesa died Sept. 13, 1993, in Mesa. She was 74. Mrs. Humphrey was born March 28, 1919, in Bowie, Texas, and had been an Arizona resident for 60 years. She was the mother-in-law of the well known Dr. Frederick Shannon of Wickenburg. Dr. Shannon was known locally and internationally for his research and studies of over 32,000 specimens of reptiles, most of which were kept at one point in his Wickenburg home. Leona worked the majority of her life in the Mesa Public Library, retiring in 1984. She was an avid gardener, enjoyed reading, loved animals and had an insatiable curiosity about people. She belonged to a Fellowship Bible Study and had a deep and abiding religious faith that carried her through her life. She started working before finishing high school and then stayed at home to raise her children, never finishing high school. While in her fifty's she earned her GED. She then attended one year at Mesa Community College, achieving straight A's in her studies. Leona was married to Francis "Buster" Humphrey from 1938 to 1959. Mrs. Humphrey is survived by her daughters Frances Lawren (former wife of Dr. Shannon) of Tempe, Molly Warring, Rebecca Wood and Tansy Wood all of Mesa; sons, the late Michael Humphrey of Middleburg, Vermont, and Andy Humphrey of Huchuca City; sisters Hattie Bell Carter of Casa Grande and Genie Edwards of Fayetteville and a brother Ben Stepp of Casa Grande. Graveside services have been held. Memorial contributions may be made to the Nature Conservancy, Phoenix Highway, Wickenburg, AZ 85390 or to the American Heart Association, Arizona Affiliate, P. O. box 7038, Phoenix, AZ 85011. Frey Funeral Home handled the arrangements.