On Saturday, June 9, 2018 Claude S. Mumphrey passed away at the home of his two best friends - his son, J. Wayne, and daughter-in-law Vicki Mumphrey. Claude was born February 26, 1925 in Meraux, LA to Rose Ranatza and Anthony Mumphrey, who predeceased him. Also predeceasing him was his longtime business partner and brother, Frank, and Frank’s wife, Francis Mumphrey. Claude was also predeceased by his wife, Joel C. Mumphrey, and his infant sons, Anthony, Charles and Claude Jr. He was also predeceased by his grandsons, Claude S. Mumphrey II and Wayne B. Mumphrey, along with his great-grandson, Jack Wayne Piza, child of his granddaughter, Sarah Mumphrey Piza (Maurice).
He is survived by J. Wayne and Victoria Mumphrey, Sarah Mumphrey Piza (Maurice) and great grandson Duke Mumphrey Piza, as well as his many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews, with special recognition to Anthony Boackle, his great nephew, who helped make his last years a pleasure for him.
As a farmer, he was exempt from military service. Nevertheless, he joined the United States Navy in 1944 and was trained as a Higgins Assault Boat Operator, attaining the rank of Coxswain. He operated his landing craft carrying troops and supplies to the beach in many of the great battles in the Pacific. Discharged from the U.S. Navy in 1946, he returned to St. Bernard to operate, along with his older brother, Frank Mumphrey, Mumphrey Farm. They raised crops year round with their major crop being Creole tomatoes. Mumphrey Farm Creole Tomatoes was the largest Creole Tomato Farm in Louisiana, winning the LSU Ag contest for Champion Tomato Grower many times.
Mumphrey Farm ceased to operate in 1965 due to a crippling farm labor shortage. Claude and his brother then turned to Real Estate Development in St. Bernard, comprised of subdivision development and all other related Real Estate projects. He served as Constable of Ward 4 of St. Bernard Parish from 1955 – 1960, and was elected and reelected five times as Ward 4’s Police Juror from 1960-1980. He served as a Commissioner of the Mississippi River Bridge Authority, the Regional Planning Commission and many other Boards and Commissions.
He participated in St. Bernard’s Mardi Gras as a member of the Krewe of Arabi, Vikings and Gladiators. He also served as King of Our Lady of Lourdes Carnival Ball. Mr. Mumphrey was the founding President of the St. Bernard Italian American Cultural Society and served as a member of the St. Bernard Crippled Children and Adults for many years. When St. Bernard called, he always answered that call.
Following the devastation of Katrina, he rebuilt his rental properties and his personal residence, remaining a resident of his beloved St. Bernard Parish until his passing. Also following Katrina, he purchased, along with his son, 500 acres in Decatur, MS and turned it into the new Mumphrey Farm whose principal crop is raising Black Angus cattle instead of Tomatoes.
He was an avid Outdoor Sportsman, having hunted big game from Wyoming to Alabama. He also fished for the Atlantic Blue Marlin, catching a 500 lb. Blue Marlin in Walker Cay, Abaco when he was 70.
In his life, those who knew him understood the man. He never met a stranger. He never failed to help persons in need. He was, simply stated, “a good man who had a thirst for life.”
Burial was private, interment with full military honors in St. Bernard Memorial Cemetery on Wednesday June 13, 2018. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wounded Warriors Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675-8517 or Louisiana SPCA, 1700 Mardi Gras Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70114.
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