Mary Humphreys Obituary

Humphreys
Mary Stevens
Humphreys
July 4, 1929
December 25, 2024

Mary Stevens Humphreys, long time resident of Security and Colorado Springs, died December 25, 2024, at the age of 95. She was born in Odessa, Missouri on July 4, 1929, to Clarence E. and Katie Harp Follett. Her mother passed away only a few weeks later. She spent part of her childhood with an aunt, uncle, and cousin on the Iowa family farm. Later, with her father Clarence and stepmother Lucille, they settled in Fayetteville, Arkansas where she finished high school and earned a Home Economics degree from the University of Arkansas. She also began her life-long membership with the United Methodist Church.
While at the University of Arkansas, she met, and on the day after graduation married Willard R. Stevens. He grew up in nearby Springdale, Arkansas, and was a Purple-Heart recipient who served with the 10th Mountain Division in Italy in WWII. They began their teaching careers in the small mountain town of Flippin, Arkansas, literally back in the hills. Willard had been stationed at "Camp" Carson near Colorado Springs to complete his duty. In 1952 they went west and began their teaching careers in Las Animas, Colorado. Both spent their entire careers teaching there. They had two sons. Rick, the older son, died at age 15, after an accident in the school gym. Fred, the younger son, graduated from Las Animas High School, earned an AAS Degree in woodworking in Pueblo, and a Business Degree from UCCS.
Her husband Willard Stevens died in his 30th year of teaching, just four months short of retirement. Mary taught for three more years at the elementary school, until she reached retirement age. Over the years, she helped over 1000 five-year olds get started in their school life. In 1985 she moved to the Security area to a new townhome and began her life of retirement.
She volunteered at several local organizations during her retirement. The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Docent program, the McAllister House Museum, Fountain Creek Nature Center, Good Shepard UMC Food Pantry, Kentucky Red Bird Mission, Docent at the Pikes Peak Heritage Museum in Florissant, and New Mexico McCurdy Mission.
She was a lifetime member of the American Association of University Women, charter member of the Santa Fe Trail Association, member of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, and a member of the Mayflower Descendants of Colorado.
In 1987, she met Ben Humphreys, in an area widowed-friends group. Soon after they hiked down Pikes Peak on the Barr Trail one wet and chilly afternoon. They were married in March 1988. Together they traveled about 82,000 miles either by van or pulling a 5th wheel, over the entire United States, including Alaska. Even went to Switzerland, Portugal and other stops in Europe. They lived in the family cabin, then remodeled home, west of Florissant, for a few years, before returning to Security.
She published two books, 'The Cog Train to the Zoo' and with Dona Bymaster, "The Rest of the Story, 1937-2006", about the little train that went from the Broadmoor Hotel up to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.
Mary is survived by her son, Fred Stevens, and his wife, Elizabeth; granddaughter Mary E. (Stevens) Calvert, her husband, Scott; step-grandson, James Kennedy, his wife, Rochelle, each with two of her four great-grandchildren; Fred's stepsons Russell and Richard Pulling, their families, and their nephew, Andrew Pulling. Also, her niece Nancy West, and Ben's daughters Charlotte Maxey, Judith Grace, and Carol E. Garner.
Her father, Clarence Follett, died in 1985. Ben Humphreys died in 2004. Mary lived in Assisted Living, then Memory Care, at the View Pointe community in northwest Colorado Springs since late 2020.
A memorial service will be at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, 1201 Leta Drive, Security, on January 17, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. Her remains will be buried in Las Animas, Colorado, next to Willard, at a later date. Any Memorial Gifts, in her name, can be made to Good Shepherd UMC, 1201 Leta Dr., Colorado Springs, CO 80911.