Berneice Mae Humphreys, 1927–2023
Berneice Mae Humphreys was born on October 29, 1927, in Garden City, Missouri, to the late Edmund Dewey Anderson and Blanche Mae (Bishop) Anderson. Berneice passed away on February 1, 2023, in Lubbock, Texas.
Berneice grew up in Creighton, Missouri, and graduated high school in 1945, after which she taught school in a oneroom schoolhouse for a year during World War II. She then attended Central Missouri State University, and St. Luke’s School of Nursing in Kansas City, where in 1950 she completed her degree and became licensed as a Registered Nurse.
After she began her nursing career, she met her future husband, Jim Humphreys, while caring for his father. They married on June 9, 1951, and moved to the Pitchfork Ranch in Guthrie, Texas. Together they raised four children at the ranch and provided a storybook childhood. Berneice loved her Pitchfork family. The 35 years spent at the ranch included being the manager’s wife, entertaining guests and using her nursing skills whenever needed. From 1974 to 1986 Berneice worked as a school nurse for the Dickens County schools. Jim retired in 1986, and at that time they moved to Lubbock. Berneice was an active member of the First Baptist Church, the Joy Sunday School Class, and the Prime Time Choir. Jim and Berneice were also active with the Ranching Heritage Center and the Red Raider Club, attending Tech sporting events for 30 years.
Berneice’s main priority was always her family. She was so proud of her children and loved being “Granny” to 10 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren.
Berneice was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jim; a sister, Mary Lee Anderson; a daughter, Jean Trull; and a son-in-law, Randy Lawson.
Those left to cherish her memory are her son, Jimbo Humphreys, and wife, Winona, of Dickens, Texas; daughters Leann Lawson Newsome and husband, Jim, of Ransom Canyon and Jane Penman of Knox City, Texas, and son-in-law Clifford Trull of McAdoo, Texas. Berneice is also survived by 10 grandchildren: Will and Lindsay Humphreys, Matt and Drew Humphreys, Clay and Marlowe Lawson, Ann Marie Lawson Cooper, Tanner and Sydnee Lawson, O’Neill and Lindsay Trull, Martha Ann and Bobby Hammond, Suzanne and James Ross, Jane Ann and Craig Bosworth, and Lindsey and Russell Walker; and 23 great-grandchildren.
Services were held on Saturday, February 4, 2023 at First Baptist Church in Lubbock, Texas, with Reverend D.L. Lowrie officiating. Burial was at Resthaven Cemetery in Lubbock, Texas.
