Michael Humphreys' Obituary
Michael Alan Humphreys, age 64, of Normal, Illinois, passed away Thursday, August 1, 2019. His memorial service was held August 4th, in Bloomington, Illinois. A family graveside service is planned for a later date at Floral Haven Cemetery in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.Mike was born October 10, 1954, in Tulsa Oklahoma where he grew up and attended school. As a young boy, he was active in the Boy Scouts and at the age of sixteen, he was awarded Scouting’s highest rank–Eagle Scout. In the fourth grade, his dearly loved uncle died while serving our country as a Navy officer and pilot. Mike was given his uncle’s cornet, and that began a love of music. During his years at Will Rogers High School, he was in band of every kind–jazz, concert, and marching band. He frequently was “dispatched” to play his trumpet at various community events such as military funerals where he played “Echo Taps.” Mike attended Oklahoma State University and became the drum major in the marching band. He received a Bachelor Degree in Music Education from OSU (1976), and a Master of Music from Baylor University (1979). After employment for a short time with the public schools and as band director at Northeastern A&M in Miami, Oklahoma, a career change was made. Mike entered the field of word processing, sales, and sales management. Doctoral studies brought him back to OSU where he graduated with a Master of Business Administration (1988), and a Doctor of Philosophy in Marketing (1993). His desire was to teach at Illinois State University. In August 1992, Mike joined the faculty of the Department of Marketing at ISU and became, Professor Humphreys. He was a core member of the Sales Faculty in the ISU Department of Marketing and helped to initiate and develop its nationally-recognized Professional Sales Institute. He also served as an Associate Director for the PSI from 2006 to 2009. Dr. Humphreys was Co-Director of the Market-Driven Quality Group at Illinois State and a principal investigator on a National Science Foundation Grant awarded to that group. Mike’s research appears in numerous professional publications. His research on the importance of personal selling in commodity markets received the award for outstanding paper at the National Conference on Sales Management. He received an Illinois State University Teaching Initiative Award in 1997, and the College of Business Teaching award in 1998. Teaching was a passion, and he strived to not only educate his students in the field of marketing but instill in them a desire for excellence. He retired from ISU in 2016.Mike was proud of his three grown children, their spouses and families. He enjoyed sharing in their lives and was interested in their many talents and skills. His four beautiful grandchildren occupied much of his thinking. He enjoyed reading and considered learning to be a lifelong process. His interests included photography, painting, astronomy, and birdwatching. He was a devoted OSU Cowboy follower and loyal to the colors, black and orange. His dog Pepper, a Belgian Malinois, was his best friend. She died one day before Mike.Preceding him in death is his father, Doug Humphreys. He leaves behind his mother, Marcia Humphreys, Tulsa, Ok; three children, Adam Humphreys and wife, Mandy, Bloomington, IL; Audra Wilkinson and husband, Rob, Colorado Springs, CO; Alyssa Cress and husband, Adam, St. Joseph, MO; six grandchildren, Danica and Camden Wilkinson, Colorado Springs, CO; Declan Cress and one not yet born, St. Joseph, MO; Hazel Humphreys and one not yet born, Bloomington, IL; two sisters and families, Susan Richardson, Sarasota, Fl, son, Evan and wife, Monica, daughters, Victoria and Natalia, Boston, MA; Nancy Sullins, husband, Lynn, and daughter, Lindy, Tulsa, OK; one brother, David Humphreys, wife, Jessie, Tulsa, OK; as an organ donor, Mike helped numerous people survive.Contributions may be made to the Humane Society of Central Illinois, 423 N. Kays Drive, Normal, IL 61761
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