Russ Humphrey, 75 year old of Buffalo who passed away quietly Tuesday morning at the Johnson County Health Care Center in Buffalo. Funeral services will be held Friday, December 16th at 2:00 p.m. at the Harness Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Tom Saur officiating.
Visitation will be held from the funeral home chapel on Thursday from 1:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and on Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Interment will be in the Willow Grove Cemetery with graveside services to follow the funeral.
Eldon Russell Humphrey was born on March 13, 1941 in Toppenish, Washington to Eldon and Blanche Humphrey. He moved with his family to Sundance, Wyoming when he was young and the family later moved to Newcastle, Wyoming where he graduated from Newcastle High School with the class of 1960. During high school he was very athletic and played on the Newcastle, Football,
Basketball and Track Teams.
After high school he worked at the refinery in Newcastle for a while. He was married on June 1st, 1963 to Jeri Papke and they made their home in Newcastle where Russ worked for Black Hills Power. Russ worked at various occupations until the mid 1960’s when he and his wife moved to Denver for Russ to attend Barber College. Following several moves in Wyoming, including a twelve year stay in Upton where he worked for Goodwell, they settled in Buffalo in 1988 and Russ worked as a barber for Floyd’s Barber Shop in the Occidental Hotel. He later started Russ’ Barber Shop which he owned and operated until his death.
Russ has been a member of the Buffalo City Council since 2006 and had two more years left on his term. He was a member of the Upton School Board for ten years. Russ was extremely active in Buffalo and served on numerous boards and committees. He was also an avid sports fan and was passionate about supporting Bison Athletics and coached Little League for years in both Newcastle and Buffalo.
He is survived by his wife Jeri Humphrey of Buffalo; three daughters Jamie Day and her husband Bill, Kelli Jarvis and her husband Brian and Jennifer Sandefur all of Buffalo; one sister Ellen Halbrook of Gillette, Wyoming; eight grandchildren, Matthew, Kyle, Trevor, Courtney, Mitchell, Brittney, Chelsey and Nick; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister and infant twin boys.
Donations in Russ’s memory may be made to the Renew Works House in care of the Harness Funeral Home at 351 N. Adams in Buffalo.
Online condolences may be made at www.harnessfuneralhome.com
