Vernie Lester Humphrey, of Iberia, was born on March 2, 1927, in Maries County, a son of Lester Izarier and May Emaline (Renfrow) Humphrey, and departed this life at 1:18 a.m., on Sunday morning, February 1, 2015, in the Miller County Care Center, Tuscumbia. Mr. Humphrey had been in failing health for some time and had attained the age of 87 years, 10 months, and 27 days.

Mr. Humphrey was united in marriage on December 27, 1947, at Iberia, to the former Miss Catherine Wynette Shepherd, and to this union, five children were born. He was preceded in death by his wife, Catherine, on November 2, 2014; his father, Lester, on January 25, 1957; his mother, May, on May 13, 1991; his brother, Vasca Humphrey; one sister, Viola Dake; and one daughter-in-law, Denise Kay (Thompson) Humphrey, on October 11, 2011.

Mr. Humphrey was a member of the Brays Advent Christian Church, near Iberia, and a United States Army veteran of World War II. He was a person that especially enjoyed farming, raising livestock, doing mechanic work, and fishing in his pond. During his working life, Mr. Humphrey had first worked as a mechanic for his dad; then as a mechanic for Schanzmeyer Chevrolet in Meta; next as a mechanic in his own business for four years; and finally as a Post Engineers Mechanic at Fort Leonard Wood, prior to his retirement in 1987.

Those left to mourn the passing of Mr. Humphrey include: Two sons, Darrell Lemoin Humphrey and fiancée, Charlotte, and Dwight Arthur Humphrey and wife, Tina, all of Iberia; three daughters, Nancy Catherine Groves and husband, Larry, ReVae Wynette Hammack and husband, John Fergus, and Alice Ann Lane and husband, Roger, all of Iberia; three granddaughters, Tera Humphrey of Rolla, Katie Wright and husband, Erick, of Iberia, and Latesha Zach and husband, Alex, of Rolla; one great-grandson, Owen Lee Wright, of Iberia; one sister, Verla Dale Hutchison, of Tuscumbia; and many other relatives and friends.

Visitation for Mr. Humphrey will be held from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m., on Tuesday, February 3, 2015, in the Brays Advent Christian Church on Brays Church Road near Iberia.

Funeral services for Mr. Humphrey will be conducted at 2:00 p.m., on Tuesday, February 3, 2015, in the Brays Advent Christian Church on Brays Church Road near Iberia with Bro. Brian Duncan officiating. Interment with full military honors will be in the Union Cemetery, next to Brays Church, under the direction of the Vienna Chapel of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Homes.

Memorial contributions are suggested by the family of Mr. Humphrey to Hospice Compassus, 600 Monroe Street, Suite 100, Jefferson City, Missouri 65101.