Michael Earl Humphreys

Michael Earl Humphreys, 68, went home to glory on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2016. He was born to Leland Earl Humphreys and Alta Kate (nee: Elliott) Humphreys in Meridian, Mississippi on March 9, 1947. His father preceded him in death.

Mike’s exceptional life exhibited his determination, drive and passion for excellence in all his activities which were evident in his academic, athletic and business successes. As a pre-schooler in his early childhood and throughout his life, Mike was eager to learn. When his older brother by 19 months, Ray, started first grade in Meridian, Mike anxiously awaited his return home at the end of each school day and begged Ray to tell him what he had been taught. He would rummage through Ray’s books and papers to see and absorb what he might have missed. When Ray was a 2nd grader, Mike would ride his bicycle a few blocks away to the school to be there at morning recess time. He played with Ray and his friends as if he was a member of the class. As bells sounded to call the class back, he sadly rode back home and patiently waited for the afternoon recess time to roll around.

Mike applied himself at Neshoba Central High School (NCHS) and finished in the top five of his large 1965 graduating class. In athletics, he was awarded First Team All-Conference honors in football in both his junior and senior years. With a batting average of over .500, he also received the same honors in baseball both years leading his NCHS teams to district baseball championships.

After graduating from NCHS, Mike set a goal to personally fully fund his college education. He did so by working with the Southwestern Publishing Company, Nashville, TN. The day after his high school graduation he went with a sales crew to Kansas City, Missouri, knocked on doors selling dictionaries 72 hours each week, and immediately distinguished himself by breaking sales records. In subsequent summers, he developed and led sales crews to Dallas, Texas, Detroit, Michigan and was named as a top salesman and crew leader in the company. Mike finished his college education at Mississippi State University in 1970 with a dual degree in engineering and business. He accepted an offer by the Trane Company and, as a technical salesman, he worked with mechanical engineers, contractors, and building owners to meet large facility environmental equipment requirements throughout the Louisiana marketplace. In this role, Mike rapidly distinguished himself repeatedly as a Top Ten winner and ultimately rose to the number one position in Trane’s National sales program. After several years of working out of the Baton Rouge, Louisiana offices of Trane, he transferred to Trane’s Shreveport region. Later in his career Mike brought his vast knowledge and skills to Schully Strawn and Associates, a heating, ventilation and air conditioning company in the deep south marketplace. Customers of Mike continually demanded his services due to his commitment to meet and exceed their needs. Mike proudly related that one of his major contractors put his arm around him and said, “Humphreys, you have cut a wide swath throughout the state of Louisiana.”

Mike’s enthusiasm with life extended to his activities away from the workplace. He also had a love for fishing which began at a young age when fishing with his dad. In his young adult life, he successfully competed on weekends in bass tournaments. Later he turned to fishing with friends and customers in the south Louisiana seaways and marshes where he learned to love “fishing the birds” for speckled trout and redfish. Mike made many trips to many different freshwater lakes, especially if he could get in the boat with his dad and brother to compete for the most bream and crappie. He enjoyed ending those fishing days by cleaning the fish, firing up the gas burner, and dropping into the heated cooking oil hush puppies, fries, and, of course, the fish. A feast for all always followed which was highlighted by Mike’s unique joke telling ability. He would have everyone doubling over in stitches throughout the evening. Mike also loved the sands and waters of Florida and spent most of his vacation time over the past two decades with family, friends and customers at his beach house in San Destin. Mike’s love was to make friends, customers and family happy as frequently as possible.

In addition to fishing, Mike loved football. He religiously followed his Mississippi State Bulldogs and, having lived in Louisiana for 45 years, he also became a fan of the LSU Tigers and the New Orleans Saints.

Mike is survived by his wife, Debbie Waggoner Humphreys, his son Shawn Humphreys, his stepdaughter Ashley Bounds, his stepsons, Chris and Dustin Davis, his brother Ray Humphreys (Michelle), his nephew Chandler Humphreys,DMD (Lindsey), his grandnephew Brad Humphreys, and his mother, Alta Kate Humphreys.

To commemorate and celebrate Mike’s full life, two memorial services for family and friends have been planned. The first is scheduled to be held at Pine Grove Baptist Church, House, MS on Thursday, February 18, 2016 at 6:00pm. The second memorial service is set for Hill Crest Memorial Funeral Home, Haughton, LA on Sunday, February 21, 2016 at 2:00pm.

For those who wish to honor the memory of his life, Mike’s wishes were for donations to be made to the scholarship fund of his niece, Kelley, a newly pinned Registered Nurse who in 2006 preceded him to heaven:

Kelley Elizabeth Humphreys Nursing Scholarship Fund

Create Foundation

213 West Main Street, Tupelo, MS 38804.

Website: www.createfoundation.com