Humphrey, Joyce M.

Joyce Mae Bowman Humphrey, 101, longtime resident of Glastonbury, Connecticut, died on Saturday, May 22, 2021, at The Hearth at Glastonbury. Born March 1, 1920, in Duluth, Minnesota, the younger daughter of Sydney and Elizabeth Mabel Bowman, she was a proud and loving daughter of both those parents and that hillside city on the shores of Lake Superior. At the University of Minnesota's College of Education in Minneapolis, Joyce earned a Bachelor of Science degree with distinction. A year after graduating, she returned to the University to complete four quarters of engineering-related courses as a participant in UMN's Pratt and Whitney Fellowship Program, which secured her a position as an Engineering Aide at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, in East Hartford, Connecticut. She met Charles Humphrey at Pratt & Whitney; they married in 1950 and moved to Glastonbury in 1951. Joyce left P & W to raise their three children and, over the years, two Boston Terriers. Joyce was well-known for delighting in dogs of all kinds, but Bostons were her favorites as she'd grown up with several of them. Joyce and Chuck shared a great love of hiking, camping, and taking road trips of all lengths throughout the U.S. and Canada, and they passed their love of the outdoors and of car trips on to their children. Their faith was also of central importance to the couple. They were active members of Buckingham Congregational Church for as long as each was able to be. Joyce's roles there included being a deacon, participating in the Ladies Aid/ Women's Fellowship and Bible study group, and working on the annual Strawberry Supper and Early American Fair. Joyce returned to work outside the home in the early 1970s, eventually being rehired by Pratt & Whitney and retiring from there in 1985. In 1978, she and Chuck bought an RV which they used extensively until Chuck's unexpected death late in 1988. After Chuck's passing, Joyce spent many winters in one warm location or another with a group of friends. Throughout her life, Joyce enjoyed pursuing her interests in the company of others. Among the groups she belonged to were her school newspaper and yearbook clubs; Pratt & Whitney's social club, during her early years with the company; Women's Club, Garden Club, and the Bolton Homemakers Club; and in her later years, Tiny Tours, Elderhostel, the Red Hat Society, the Audubon Society, and a book club. Until she was 90, she was a regular participant in activities at Glastonbury's Senior Center. In whatever social situation she found herself, Joyce loved sharing laughter with her companions. Her health eventually required her to leave her beloved home and she spent her last few years at The Hearth at Glastonbury. In addition to her husband and parents, Joyce was preceded in death by her sister, Laura Bowman Kooistra, and her brother-in-law, David Kooistra. She is survived by son Donald Humphrey and wife Lilliana of Hebron, CT; daughter Susan Humphrey of Madison, WI; son James Humphrey and wife Christianne of Center Sandwich, NH; grandson Derek Humphrey and wife Lauren; granddaughter Carla Humphrey and fiancé Hermes Marticio; granddaughter Chelsea Escarfullery and husband Michelle; grandson Samuel Humphrey; great-grandchildren Marjorie and Nolan Humphrey and Luca Escarfullery; and nephews Paul Kooistra and wife Sandi, and Roger Kooistra and wife Janet. The family thanks all those who made Joyce's final years more comfortable and sociable than they otherwise would have been. We are especially grateful for the caring attention given to her by Nazrene Allie, Seeta Sugrim, and Felicia Truesdale. No funeral was held. A private celebration of Joyce's life took place in June of this year. Memorial contributions may be made to Buckingham Congregational Church (16 Cricket Lane, Glastonbury, CT 06033), Connecticut Humane Society, or National Park Foundation. Glastonbury Funeral Home in East Hartford was entrusted with final care. A more complete tribute is on their website, dignitymemorial.com.

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