Beauford Haskell Humphrey

Beauford Haskell Humphrey, age 85, of Mena, Arkansas was born May 12, 1937, in Poplarville, Mississippi, to Ruby (Landry) Humphrey and Basil Haskell Humphrey. He passed from this life on Wednesday, December 21, 2022. Beauford was the oldest of three siblings.

After leaving school at 13, Beauford worked in the log woods until getting permission to join the U.S. Army at age 17. After three years in the Army and a tour in Germany, he switched branches of service and joined the U.S. Air Force. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam earning several medals including the Distinguished Flying Cross. Following the war, he became a flight engineer on the C-141 aircraft and after numerous promotions, retired in 1976 as a master sergeant. 

Beauford married Patricia Abernathy of Mena, AR, in 1959, and they made their first home in Jacksonville, Arkansas, before moving to Alaska and multiple locations throughout the United States while serving in the U.S. Air Force. Together they had three children. 

After serving in the military, he trained as a carpenter and was involved in multiple construction projects and worked for Brown and Root. He had a wandering nature that led him to work as a long-distance truck driver and as an owner/operator of his own logging truck business. After retiring from this work, he moved to Mena, where he married Frances (Pryor) Humphrey and finished his working career with the state highway department.

In retirement he was known to be on his tractor, either cutting hay or growing okra, which worked really well until it came time to pick it. Here he often enjoyed the help of his wife Frances. They grew peas, okra, and tomatoes until his health forced him off the tractor. His hobbies included singing gospel in local churches and “singings” and was organizing a group at the Homewood Cottages at the time of his death.

Beauford was predeceased by his parents; one brother, Connieway; and two sons, Brian Haskell passed in 2019, and Timothy Hampton in 2022.

He is survived by a sister, Uintia Roberts of Lufkin, Texas, his daughter Krystal Thrailkill Ross (Mike) of Mena, AR, and Danny Thrailkill of Mena, AR. He is also survived by grandsons, Christopher Daniel Thrailkill and Travis Daniel Thrailkill of Mena, AR, and Blake Humphrey of Dallas, TX, and grandaughters Spencer Thrailkill Miller (Preston) of Fayetteville, AR, Courtney Maravilla (Alex) and Kaitlin Humphrey, both of Dallas/Fort Worth, TX. He is also survived by five great-granddaughters, several nieces, nephews and many friends.

Beauford was a storyteller, not all of them credible, but was known to laugh and enjoy a good joke. Special thanks to the caregivers at Peachtree and Homewood Cottages as he made his way to the end of his journey. He and the family appreciate all that you did. Funeral services are Wednesday, December 28, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at the Beasley Wood Chapel with the Reverend Ron Tilley officiating. Interment will be at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, DC. with full military honors.

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