Janet Humphrey

Janet Pauline Avera Humphrey, of West Columbia, passed away on Friday, June 26, 2020. Jan was born on December 6, 1938 in Freeport, Texas to Winston and Esther (Paul) Avera. She was a lifetime resident of West Columbia and was married to her high school sweetheart George Harvey Humphrey for 64 years; they raised five girls.

Jan grew up attending Columbia United Methodist Church. All of her school days were spent attending CBISD, graduating in 1957. She spent many of her childhood days creating things for 4-H competitions, dancing at recitals and playing in the band. While raising her five girls and being married to the love of her life, she sewed for her daughters, taught piano lessons and played for the children’s Sunday school class while working at the Ben Franklin Store. She was a member and past president of the United Methodist Women’s group, the West Columbia Volunteer Fireman’s Ladies Auxiliary, and was an officer for the Home Demonstration Club. In her free time, Jan loved to play cards and fish off the pier at the family’s house on Carancahua Bay.

Jan never met a stranger. From her youngest days, she began introducing herself and making folks comfortable. She lived life to the fullest and filled the room with laughter wherever she went. She lived out the saying passed down to her by her grandmother Honora Paul, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all” along with the Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.”

Preceding Jan in their passing were Winston and Esther Avera; granddaughter, Esther Frankum; and sons-in-law, Gary Day, Dale Frankum and Gary Rhodes.

Her surviving family members are husband, George Humphrey; daughters, Charlotte Day, Dorthy Torno and husband, Tim, Gladys Frankum, Nancy Stephens and husband, Keith, and Georgeann Rhodes; brother Winston Avera, Jr. and wife, Connie; 13 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; 4 nieces and 3 nephews.

A celebration of her life will be held privately by her family July 1, 2020 at Columbia United Methodist Church in West Columbia officiated by Pastor Paul Kethley. Burial will follow at Cedar Lawn Haven of Rest.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons Shannon Day, Wyatt Day, Taylor Torno, Nathan Torno, Trey Torno, Dale Frankum II, Andrew Stephens and Clarke Rhodes.

The family would like to make a special thanks to all the staff at Country Village Care and the A-Med Hospice Team.

Memorials can be made to Columbia United Methodist Church.