Mary Rosalie Humphrey

Mrs. Mary Rosalie Brown Humphrey, 88, of Biloxi, died Thursday, March 10, 2011 at 2:23 a.m. at Keesler Medical Center in Biloxi. Mrs. Humphrey was born October 17, 1922, in Lorman, MS, to her parents, Walter George and Mary Alma "Mamie" Kellogg Lindsey Brown. She was a very devoted and patriotic Air Force wife who enjoyed traveling the world with her husband and daughters. They looked forward to each new assignment as a chance to explore new communities and absorb cultures. Those assignments included Lincoln, Nebraska, Salina, Kansas, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Chaumont, France, Frankfurt, Germany, Biloxi Mississippi (several times), and Charleston, South Carolina. In the year prior to their returning to the United States from Europe, the Humphreys traveled extensively with their children who were permitted to be out of school for a month. It was the opportunity of a lifetime to tour Holland, England, Luxembourg, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Spain and Portugal. Mrs. Humphrey was most proud of her husband's service to his country during war and peace----a career which included 50 years, 2 months and 12 days of active and civilian service with the U. S. Air Force. She would often speak of WW II and 1944 when this officer with the 412th Bombardment Squardron, 95th Bombardment Group (H), Eighth Air Force was bombardier aboard the Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress (The Roaring Bill) in missions over Continental Europe. Mrs. Humphrey enjoyed making scrapbooks chronicalizing the Brown and Humphrey family histories, husband's career, world travels, children's activities, and a vast recipe collection. She was a gifted pianist who played piano by ear and whose repertoire included popular melodies of the 1940's, 1950's and 1960's. She always included the Air Force song and ended performances with her favorite hymn, "Ave Maria". Mrs. Humphrey, the great granddaughter of a Methodist Minister, was most proud of her grandfather, James Kelly Brown, who became a Catholic after reading "Faith of Our Fathers" by Cardinal Gibbons. A small crucifix of his, now in her possession, was present when the first celebrations of Holy Mass in Jefferson County, MS, were held in his home. Of all of life's possessions, Mrs. Humphrey considered the Roman Catholic faith her greatest treasure. She was preceded in death by her parents and her beloved husband of 62 years, H. J. Humphrey of Biloxi and their eldest daughter, Mrs. Mary Catherine Humphrey Polensky of Charleston, SC. Mrs. Humphrey was the youngest and last surviving member of the Brown family. Her brothers and sisters in order of their deaths were: Walter Brown, Jr., Will Patrick Brown, Sister Marie Therese Brown, R.S.M., James Alphonsus Brown and Harriet Elizabeth Brown. Mrs. Humphrey is survived by her daughter, Ms. Mamie (Margaret Rose) Humphrey of Biloxi and eight Polensky grandchildren of North and South Carolina. Special "Thank yous" to USAF Chaplain Werner for his prayers and words of comfort, Keesler Medical Center for 45 years of providing excellent health care for my mother; and to her favorite primary care physician, Jonathan L. Henderson (The Big Man from Texas), who in addition to being a highly-skilled professional, was kind, compassionate and attentive toward her; always treating her with the dignity and respect our senior members from the greatest generation so deserve. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday, March 15, 2011, at 12 noon at St. James Catholic Church, Cowan Road, in Gulfport where friends may visit one hour before service time. Interment will follow in Biloxi National Cemetery. Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, Howard Avenue, in Biloxi is in charge of services. In Memory of a Mother "I remember thee in this solemn hour, my dear mother. I remember the days when thou didst dwell on earth, and thy tender love watched over me like a guardian angel. Thou hast gone from me, but the bond which unites our souls can never be severed; thine image lives within my heart. May the merciful Father reward thee for the faithfulness and kindness thou hast ever shown me; may He lift up the light of his countenance upon thee and grant thee eternal peace! Amen.