Harry E. Humphries

Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2007, Harry Echols Humphries, 74, of Naples, Fla., died at his home due to complications from congestive heart failure. With his infectious laugh and trademark goatee, Harry Humphries was always easy to spot in a crowd. A man of great humor and curiosity, Harry had a remarkable ability to put people at ease. He gathered friends far and wide Â? the world was his neighborhood. Harry loved new adventures, good conversation and, most of all, his family. Harry was born in Charleston, W.Va., in 1933. The Humphries family moved to Delaware, O., a few years later. His father, Harry Hobson Humphries, and mother, Bess Echols Humphries, operated a Ford dealership there for many years. In 1955, Harry married Peggy Ashton of Carrollton, O. Harry founded Harry Humphries Auto City in New Philadelphia, O., in 1956 and served as its president until 1984. He also owned and operated automobile dealerships in Mansfield, Delaware and Dover, O. Additionally, Harry founded Humphries-McKnight Trucks which later became wholly owned by his close friend, Joe McKnight. Harry was a former President of the Tuscarawas Chamber of Commerce, the local Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) and served on the Board of Directors of the Union Country Club. He also served two terms as President of the Cat Cay Club in the Bahamas. In 1954, Harry graduated from Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Some years later, he was a member of the College Corporation and member of the Board of Trustees. A financial contribution made in honor of his parents, brought a key feature Â? Humphries Plaza Â? to the Babson campus. Work on the plaza was completed in 1973. For many years, he also funded a full scholarship for Ohio students to attend the College. After retiring from the automobile business in 1984, Harry and his wife, Lynn Gay, lived in the British Virgin Islands, London, England, Bahamas, North Carolina and the Dominican Republic before returning to Naples, Fla., for a second time. Harry thoroughly enjoyed competition in business and sport Â? from amateur boxing in his youth, tennis, golf, croquet, deep-sea fishing, the occasional fierce games of backgammon and Scrabble. He never looked at obstacles as impediments but as interesting challenges that put him in the game. Curve balls were caught, examined and always returned with a positive, proactive spin. Harry always knew a good idea when he saw one.He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Lynn Gay Humphries. He is also survived by his first wife, Peggy Stratton; six children, Harry (Lesli) Humphries, Kim (Sarah) Humphries, Michael Humphries, Susan (Dave) Vaglia, Douglas Humphries and Robert (Paula) Humphries, as well as seven grandchildren, Sarah, Brittany, Jillian, Haleigh, Johnathon, Jacob and Hope; and three great-grandchildren, Codie, Kylie and Piper. He is predeceased by his parents, his sister, Betsy Anne, and grandson, Christian. Friends are invited to attend a Memorial Service and Celebration of Life Friday, Dec. 21, 2007 in the Geib Funeral Center at Dover. Family friend Jerry Westbrook will lead the 5:30 p.m. ceremony, with the Celebration and reception to follow. Those unable to attend are invited to share memories with the family in the online register book at www.geibfuneral.com. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to the American Heart Assn., www.americanheart.org or (800) 242-8721.