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Weden Parkhurst Humphrey

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Weden Parkhurst Humphrey

Birth	:	13 Jan 1916 Santa Maria, Santa Barbara County, California, USA
Death	:	21 Oct 2007 Oxnard, Ventura County, California, USA
Burial	:	Conejo Mountain Memorial Park, Camarillo, Ventura County, USA
Coordinate	:	34.1805970, -119.0034930
Description	:	Camarillo Acorn, Friday, November 2, 2007: TRUE COUNTRY VET- As a member of the Ranchero Vistadores, a long-standing fraternity that preserves the traditions of the early days of California ranchers, veterinarian Weden Humphrey, far right, met a number of business and political leaders including, from left, Al Jalaty, the city of Port Hueneme's first police chief; Ronald Reagan, after his tenure as governor of California and before his presidency; and James Reardon at a 1977 event. Weden P. Humphrey, a man many say was the quintessential country veterinarian, died last week. The 91-year-old Camarillo resident died in his home on Oct. 21. Humphrey... Read More	Camarillo Acorn, Friday, November 2, 2007: TRUE COUNTRY VET- As a member of the Ranchero Vistadores, a long-standing fraternity that preserves the traditions of the early days of California ranchers, veterinarian Weden Humphrey, far right, met a number of business and political leaders including, from left, Al Jalaty, the city of Port Hueneme's first police chief; Ronald Reagan, after his tenure as governor of California and before his presidency; and James Reardon at a 1977 event. Weden P. Humphrey, a man many say was the quintessential country veterinarian, died last week. The 91-year-old Camarillo resident died in his home on Oct. 21. Humphrey is survived by his daughters, Karen Humphrey, 63, of Camarillo, and Karel Murphy, 56, of Newport, Ore. His son, Gary, who was killed in Vietnam in 1968, and Ruth Humphrey, his wife of 64 years, preceded him in death. The soft-spoken man, dedicated to his work, was revered by colleagues and clients for his integrity and talent, family and friends said at his funeral on Monday to a standing-room crowd at Conejo Mountain Funeral Home and Memorial Park in Camarillo. "You knew you loved your dad, but you found other people loved him too," Karen Humphrey said after the funeral. "It's pretty overwhelming." Weden and Ruth Humphrey, better known as Doc and Mickey, opened a veterinary practice out of their Oxnard home in 1942. Their three children often accompanied their father on weekend calls around the county farms just as Humphrey did as a child growing up in Santa Maria. His father too was a veterinarian. Humphrey told stories to his daughters of traveling along dirt roads in a horse-drawn buggy as he and his father made house calls, even going to Hearst Castle. Humphrey's specialty was thoroughbred horses, but he cared for all sorts of large and small animals. With fewer veterinarians in those days and dairy farms and large ranches dotting the landscape, Humphrey regularly drove north to Solvang and south to Malibu to see his patients. His reputation also spread far and wide. Longtime friend Elaine Togami remembers Humphrey being called to Bakersfield to care for an injured elephant in a traveling circus. The quiet man, who always wore polished boots, a Stetson hat and coveralls, was called to the Malibu ranches of celebrities; he cared for the exotic animals at Jungleland in Thousand Oaks and for the animals on the sets of "Lassie" and "Dr. Doolittle." When it came to his job, Humphrey was all business but always took time to answer questions and encourage young people, as he did with Richard and Mike Giacopuzzi. The cousins were in their teens when Humphrey came to the family's Oxnard dairy farm to care for the animals. Taking note of their interest, Humphrey encouraged them to go to veterinary school and hired them in the 1970s after they graduated. The men later bought Humphrey's practice. Richard Giacopuzzi said that his mentor was ahead of his time. Humphrey devised a method for straightening the crooked legs of newborn foals when no one else knew how, he said. Word of the technique spread and vets across the state asked Humphrey to come and demonstrate the procedure. "He's still a legacy in this area," said Richard Giacopuzzi, 55. Mike Giacopuzzi, also 55, said Humphrey had opportunities over the years to sell his practice before he and his cousin bought it. But Humphrey was a devoted veterinarian whom clients tended to make an extended member of the family. So it was more important to Humphrey that his successor keep alive his tradition- putting patients and clients above all else. "He took an interest in people's lives," Mike Giacopuzzi said. After Humphrey sold the practice, he went to work for his former protégés, who opened an equine hospital in Somis in 1988. As a sign of respect, the Giacopuzzis added Humphrey's name to the business. Over the next 10 years or so, Humphrey reported to work every day even though he was in his 70s. It wasn't until he was in his mid 80s that Humphrey could no longer keep up the routine. The Giacopuzzis still consulted with him on difficult cases. Humphrey was a man of his word, with a trusting nature, although it worked against him at times. He had a mischievous grin and dry sense of humor that turned clients and others into loyal friends. A member of the Ranchero Vistadores, a longstanding fraternity that preserves the traditions of the early days of California ranchers, Humphrey rubbed elbows with CEOs and statesmen, including the late President Ronald Reagan.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Weden Parkhurst Humphrey's memorial?
Weden Parkhurst Humphrey's memorial is located at: Conejo Mountain Memorial Park, Camarillo, Ventura County, USA.
When did Weden Parkhurst Humphrey death?
Weden Parkhurst Humphrey death on 21 Oct 2007 in Oxnard, Ventura County, California, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Weden Parkhurst Humphrey's memorial?
Latitude: 34.1805970
Longitude: -119.0034930

Family Members:

Parent

Spouse

Ruth Gertrude McGath Humphrey

(1917 - 2004)

Children

Sgt Weden Gary Humphrey

(1946 - 1968)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Camarillo Family Mausoleum
Camarillo, Ventura County, USA
Coordinate: 34.2151690, -119.0361310

2. Pleasant Valley Cemetery
Camarillo, Ventura County, USA
Coordinate: 34.2158480, -119.0373060

3. Saint Columbas Episcopal Church Columbarium
Camarillo, Ventura County, USA
Coordinate: 34.2331850, -119.0554690

4. Olson Family Cemetery
Ventura County, USA
Coordinate: 34.2263300, -118.8688700

5. Masonic Cemetery
Port Hueneme, Ventura County, USA
Coordinate: 34.1622009, -119.1477966

6. Japanese Cemetery
Port Hueneme, Ventura County, USA
Coordinate: 34.1618996, -119.1496964

7. Saint Patricks Episcopal Church Garden
Thousand Oaks, Ventura County, USA
Coordinate: 34.2012360, -118.8492720

8. Saint Paul United Methodist Church Memorial Garden
Oxnard, Ventura County, USA
Coordinate: 34.1815060, -119.1806660

9. In The Shadow Of The Cross Memorial Garden
Oxnard, Ventura County, USA
Coordinate: 34.2158818, -119.1807445

10. Santa Clara Cemetery
Oxnard, Ventura County, USA
Coordinate: 34.2305984, -119.1821976

11. Bard Memorial
Port Hueneme, Ventura County, USA
Coordinate: 34.1565180, -119.1955080

12. Richardson Family Cemetery
Santa Paula, Ventura County, USA
Coordinate: 34.3437350, -119.0463940

13. Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Simi Valley, Ventura County, USA
Coordinate: 34.2590680, -118.8204260

14. Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Memorial Park
Westlake Village, Los Angeles County, USA
Coordinate: 34.1528778, -118.7995529

15. Old Russell Cemetery
Ventura County, USA
Coordinate: 34.1518750, -118.7995220

16. Pierce Brothers Santa Paula Cemetery
Santa Paula, Ventura County, USA
Coordinate: 34.3535995, -119.0785980

17. Bardsdale Cemetery
Fillmore, Ventura County, USA
Coordinate: 34.3610992, -118.9403000

18. Church of the Epiphany Episcopal Columbarium
Oak Park, Ventura County, USA
Coordinate: 34.1800880, -118.7754230

19. Ivy Lawn Memorial Park
Ventura, Ventura County, USA
Coordinate: 34.2518997, -119.2153015

20. Irene Hirschi Memorial
Simi Valley, Ventura County, USA
Coordinate: 34.2748010, -118.8015240

21. Assumption Catholic Cemetery
Simi Valley, Ventura County, USA
Coordinate: 34.2570700, -118.7729300

22. Simi Valley Public Cemetery
Simi Valley, Ventura County, USA
Coordinate: 34.2656700, -118.7669300

23. Trinity Lutheran Church Columbarium
Ventura, Ventura County, USA
Coordinate: 34.2772220, -119.2394440

24. Saint Pauls Episcopal Church Memorial Garden
Ventura, Ventura County, USA
Coordinate: 34.2759070, -119.2522820