Juanita Humphreys 1921-2023

Juanita Maye Setzer Humphreys, Blues Springs, Missouri, formerly of Grant City, Missouri died on December 29, 2023, at the age of 102.  Juanita was born on June 4, 1921, in Worth, Missouri.  After receiving her Teaching Certificate from Northwest Missouri State, she taught school in the Salmon district, a one room schoolhouse. On November 1, 1943, Juanita married William Vance Humphreys of Irena, Missouri.  In 1945, Juanita and Bill had one son, John William Humphreys of Blue Springs, Missouri.

As a young girl, Juanita spent a lot of her time with her maternal Grandmother, Polly Myers.  Juanita loved her grandmother very much.  Her fondest childhood memories came from the time they spent together.

Juanita was preceded in death by her parents, William Alexander Setzer and Betty Ellen Myers Setzer; her husband, Bill; two brothers Harry O’Donald Setzer and Roy William Setzer and a sister, Estelle Marie Davidson Burgin.

Juanita, Bill and John lived in Worth, Missouri until the 1948 tornado damaged their house.  They moved to Irena, Missouri where they lived until Bill’s death in 1989. Juanita moved to Grant City then to Albany. In 2009, she moved to Blue Springs, Missouri to live with her son.

In 1998, Juanita was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Albany, Missouri.  She knew that the Book of Mormon was true.  She said that reading the Book of Mormon was the biggest and most positive experience of her life.

Juanita is survived by her son John and his wife, Ann Elizabeth Randall Humphreys.  Juanita’s two grandsons are William Randall of the home and Russell Miles and his wife, Amy Jean Schaefer Humphreys, of Odessa, Florida.  Each grandson gave her two great grandsons, Caleb Avery and Haden Scott of Lee’s Summit, Missouri and Ethan John and Owen Michael of Odessa, Florida.

Juanita kept house and helped run the Humphreys business in Irena.  Most every customer became a good friend. Salesmen changed their routes so that they could meet together with Bill and discuss business while enjoying Juanita’s cooking.

Juanita loved to talk about her friends and activities with the Irena Willing Workers Club.  She enjoyed making floats for the parades in the area.  She recalled how they took the grand prize in 1963 with a float depicting a Church meeting.  

Juanita also enjoyed doing genealogy and had located her and Bill’s ancestors back into the 1700’s.  She could talk for hours and did about each line of ancestors.  One branch of the Humphreys/Statham line came from English Royalty that could be traced back to the 600’s in Cotenton, Norway.

Graveside services will be held at 12:00 PM, Thursday, January 4, 2024, at the Grant City Cemetery. Arrangements: Hann Funeral Home, Grant City, MO.