Carmela L. Humphrey

Carmela Levita Humphrey, 62 of Lawrence, Kansas passed away on February 15, 2024, with her loving husband at her side.

Carmela was born in Lawrence, Kansas on May 5, 1961, to Jane and James Barnes. She grew up with six siblings and graduated from Lawrence High School in 1969. On August 13, 1988, Carmela married her husband, Allen Humphrey. They had two children, Bryant and Nicole Humphrey, both of Lawrence.

Carmela worked as a bank teller at Lawrence National Park from 1979 to 1991, and then began working for Douglas County as a Trial Court Clerk until April 1995. Following her time as a Court Clerk, Carmela began working as a Paralegal in the District Court Trustee Office until September 2016. She then transitioned to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office where she worked until her retirement in May 2022. However, because she loved keeping busy, after a few months of retirement, she returned to the Sheriff’s Office part-time until January 2024. Additionally, Carmela worked as a part-time tax preparer during the tax season for H&R Block from 2010 to 2023.

Throughout her life, Carmela enjoyed spending time with her family and staying active. During the summer, you could catch her riding her bike to Dog Days or walking around the neighborhood with her husband, Allen, and their dog. Carmela was an exceptional person who embodied the best of qualities: loyalty, hard work, unconditional love, resilience, and integrity. She loved to sing and dance and had the most infectious smile.

Carmela is survived by her husband of 35 years, Allen Humphrey, and their two children, Bryant and Nicole (Ashley Asano) Humphrey, the beloved family dog, Wyatt, and two grand-dogs, Watson and Maya. She is also survived by her brothers and sisters, Marla (Melvin) Ray, Calvin Barnes, Mark (Gladis Begaye) Barnes, Ursula (James) Minor, Barry (Lisa) Barnes, Gayla Barnes, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by both her parents, Jane and James Barnes.

Funeral Services will be at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, February 22, 2024, at the 9 ^th Street Missionary Baptist Church, 847 Ohio Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.  Interment will take place immediately following funeral services, at Oak Hill Cemetery, 1605 Oak Hill Avenue, Lawrence.

Friends are invited to visit with the family from 6:00 ~ 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 21, 2024, at the Warren McElwain Funeral Home, 120 West 13 ^th Lawrence, KS 66044.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Carmela’s name to the Ninth Street Missionary Baptist Church, 901 Tennessee Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.