Nancy Fisher Humphreys

Nancy Fisher Humphreys (nee Nancy Lloyd Fisher) age 73 passed away unexpectedly at home in Mission Hills, Kansas on August 12, 2018.  Her beloved dog, Sweetie, was at her side. Nancy, the daughter of Richard “Dick” and Elizabeth “Libby” Fisher, was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on July 4, 1945. She grew up in Laughlintown, PA in a stone house by a creek surrounded with mountain laurel. She graduated from Ligonier Valley High School, where she learned how to recite the Gettysburg Address in Spanish, and Grove City College where she majored in Early Education, following in the footsteps of her mother who taught generations of Ligonier Kindergarteners. In 1967 she married the love of her life, fellow Grove City graduate and Air Force Officer, Richard Humphreys.  Nancy embraced the adventure of being a young wife and mother in the military, particularly the four years spent in Germany, instilling in her children a life-long love of travel and cultural diversity.    She taught preschool on the military bases of Ramstein, Germany and Tyndall, Florida and later in Winchester, Virginia at the First Presbyterian Church.  For the last 13 years of her career she taught Kindergarten at Apple Pie Ridge Elementary School in Frederick County, Virginia.  In 2002 she left teaching to take on the happiest job of her life:  Granny-Nanny to her beloved grandchildren, Andy and Elizabeth.  Nancy was the heart of every home she shared with daughter’s family, first in Rochester, NY then Mount Lebanon, PA and finally Mission Hills, KS.

          When Nancy retired from teaching at Apple Pie Ridge School the following appreciation appeared in the school newsletter:

          Every once in a while, our lives are touched by a rare individual.  She brings us comfort, understanding, genuine caring and true friendship when we need it most.  She enriches our days and encourages our growth.  She gives of herself freely and without reservations.  We are drawn to her warmth and boundless energy.  She celebrates our joys and successes and shares our tears.  Sometimes she is our teacher, but always is our friend.  The students and staff of Apple Pie Ridge School have been blessed for 13 years with this once in a lifetime friend.  She is Mrs. Nancy F. Humphreys.  We have been touched by her and made better because we know her. 

          In addition to her parents, Nancy is preceded in death by her son, James McCracken Humphreys; grandsons Lloyd Davis and Miles Weston Jiang and father-in-law James Weston Humphreys.  She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Dr. Kristin Humphreys and Dr. Shao Jiang and grandchildren Andrew Kai and Elizabeth Ping Jiang of Mission Hills, KS; her sister and brother-in-law Eunice-Ann Fisher and John Adam Grove III of Glenshaw, PA, her cousin, Virginia Maury of Churchill, PA, her nephew and his wife John Adam IV and Jennefer Good Grove and their son Gavin Richard Grove of Akron PA; and her niece and her husband, Elizabeth “Liza” Grove and Sean Purdy and their sons James Trevor and David Reed Purdy of Valencia, CA , and her cherished mother-in-law Phyllis McCracken Humphreys of Derry, PA.

          There will be a graveside service at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Laughlintown PA on Saturday August 18 at 1:30.  In memoriam donations can be sent to : Orphans into Families in China - Global Giving at Care for Children U.S.A., 5000 West 134th Street, Leawood, KS 66209.  This program takes Chinese children awaiting adoption out of crowded orphanages and places them with a loving foster family.   Nancy was forever grateful for the care and attention her granddaughter received in foster care before adoption.