Lowell Avery Humphrey
March 10, 1938 - June 8, 2020

Lowell Avery Humphrey, 82, passed away peacefully on Monday, June 8, 2020, at Providence Medical Center in Anchorage, with his wife of 62 years, Joan, by his side.

Born on March 10, 1938, in Oak Harbor, Ohio, son to the late Charles and Donna Humphrey, he attended Oak Harbor High School and the University of Toledo, where he graduated with a bachelor of mathematics. In his youth, Lowell worked the family farm and played high school football. Lowell met Joan, the love of his life, one summer evening on the shores of Lake Erie; they were married in 1958. During the early years, Lowell worked for Standard Oil of Ohio (Sohio) in progressive positions from refineries to management. He served in the National Guard while attending college and starting a family and was active duty in the Army during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Lowell and Joan moved to Alaska with their six children in 1976. He came north on a 2-year assignment for Sohio, where he played in integral role in the installation of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) computer control system. The lure of writing one’s own story in The Last Frontier was overwhelming, and together they decided to make Alaska their home for the next 44 years.

A man with a knack for business, Lowell was transferred from Sohio to Alyeska Pipeline for the continued operations of TAPS. He then co-founded and developed ComRim Systems computer services.

He served as director of the Anchorage International Airport, appointed by Gov.Wally Hickel. He was key member on management teams for developing companies such as TKC Communications and NANA subsidiaries, which grew into major corporations.

He specialized in business consulting his whole life, including for his own firm, Questar, and providing volunteer business mentorship services while in retirement. Lowell supported his community, serving at various times as volunteer firefighter, neighborhood association president and Coast Guard auxiliary. He was a longtime member at The Petroleum Club of Anchorage and an active member and past president of The Alaska Support Industry Alliance.

Lowell was first and foremost a family man. Together with Joan, they built a life for themselves and their children, who live together in close proximity to this day. He adored his children and was actively engaged in their lives to the end. He and Joan hosted Sunday dinners and holidays at their home for decades. A devout Catholic, Lowell attended St. Patrick’s Parish for 44 years. Always quick to lend a helping hand, he was kind, gentle, generous, warm and good humored.

Lowell loved Alaska. He enjoyed fishing, travel, reading and golf. He and Joan spent years exploring Prince William Sound on their boats Silhouette and Katmai Lady. He lived a life that’s full, traveled each and every highway, and more, much more than this, he did it his way, as Frank Sinatra would say.

Lowell is survived by his wife, Joan Humphrey (nee LePlante); his six children, Mark Humphrey (Kimber), Christopher Humphrey (Lynn), Annie Bezilla (Paul), Mike Humphrey (Arianna), Sioux-z Marshall (Jordan) and Lisa Pekich (Illiya); 10 grandchildren, Nick, Michelle, Kristin, Valarie, Sierra, Daniel, John, Steve, Isabel and Ivy; and great-grandchildren, Benjamin and Sam. He is also survived by sisters, Marty Brown and Marilyn Weitzel; and brother, Stuart Humphrey.

Under normal circumstances the family would host a celebration of life with rousing tributes and tender eulogies from his buddies and loved ones.  But, given current public health protocols, that celebration and a memorial will be delayed. In lieu of flowers, contributions to Catholic Social Services would be appreciated.

Anchorage Daily News, June 14, 2020