Paul E. Pumphrey

Paul Edward Pumphrey was born October 27, 1955, son of Jack and Myrth Tullar Pumphrey in Kansas City, Kansas. The family moved from Kansas to Shreveport, Louisiana before making their home in Houston, Texas when Paul was small.

Even as a young boy, Paul never considered himself Texan. He was proud to be from Kansas, and he considered Jewell County his home long before he moved there. He spent as much time as possible with his grandparents, Jewell farmers, Vic and Mary Tullar, before moving “home” to complete his senior year at Jewell High School. He traded his long hair for a pair of pliers and was welcomed by the class of 1974.

Following high school, Paul attended Beloit Vo-Tech for two years and received his degree in farm mechanics. As a young man, he used his mechanical skills at various jobs around central Kansas. He also worked with Jewell residents Babe Slate, Paul Matter, and Calvin Bohnert.

It was during this time that he met his future wife, June Baird of Beloit. Paul always said that he robbed the cradle while June stated that she didn’t even have a driver’s license when they began dating.

Paul married June on February 9, 1980. They started their life together in the middle of a winter cold snap that dumped fourteen inches of snow and ice two days before their wedding. However, the wedding went on as planned. Neither June nor Paul was to be deterred by something so trivial as a Kansas snowstorm.

The Pumphrey’s began their life on a farm east of Mankato and settled down to raise hogs, cattle, and kids. The sign in front of their home states that their farm was established in 1980. Of course, Paul would tell us that he was farming a lot longer than that, and just maybe his words would be a little more colorful! He later took a job with Jewell County Road and Bridge, but his first love was always farming.

Five children were born to Paul and June. Paula, Sarah, Katie, Andrew, and Scott came quickly and filled their parents’ lives with noise, fighting, and laughter. Paul loved his children with a fierce love, and he even passed some of his strong opinions and attitudes on for them to share with future generations.

Paul was born with dirt in his veins. As both a young man and a father, he was never happier than when he was working with his animals or on his land. He was always pleased to involve his children on the farm, and they grew up with a strong work ethic. As the grandchildren came along, he worked to instill that love of the land in them as well.

Besides his wife of forty-one years and their five children, Paul leaves behind twenty-three grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father Jack Pumphrey, his beloved grandparents, Vic & Mary, brother-in-law Tom Hedberg, sister-in-law Elizabeth Parr and brother-in-law Erick Baird. He is survived by his mother Myrth and husband Graham McDonald, Victoria, TX, his sister Karen Hedberg, Austin, TX, his brother Philip and wife Jeri, Reno, NV and brother Johnny Pumphrey, Austin, TX, brothers and sisters-in-law and a multitude of nieces and nephews.

Paul’s grandchildren were the delight of his life and they are: Isaac, Mikayla, Lilly, Savannah, Mary, Monica, and Zander, children of Paula and Anthony Skidmore, Smith Center, KS; Dominic, Benedict, Joseph, Anthony, Patrick, Therese, John Paul, Zellie, and Sebastian, children of Sarah and Ryan Heim, Plymouth, MN; Paul, Gracie, Jacinta and Joseph, children of Katie and Sean Keys, Wentzville, MO; and Andrew’s children, Abigail, Avery, and Hayden of Mankato.

Paul’s passing on September 5, 2021 will leave holes in the hearts of his family and his friends. Paul had a gift for forming friendships that were powerful and meaningful. Many of those friends have reached out to the family and expressed how much his life meant to them. The number of friends is too numerous to mention here, and he would never want to hurt someone by our forgetfulness. He had a plaque on his wall for many years that read, “It’s not the size of the man in the fight—it’s the size of the fight in the man.” Although he was a small man in stature, Paul was a big man in spirit, and we will miss him.

Visitation will be Wednesday, September 8 ^th , 2021, from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, at Melby Mortuary in Mankato. Rosary and Vigil Service will follow at 7:00 pm, at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Mankato. The family will greet friends following the vigil service, at the church.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, September 9 ^th , 2021, at 10:00 a.m., at St. Theresa Catholic Church. Burial will follow at St. Theresa Catholic Cemetery, Mankato.

Memorials are requested to the Paul E. Pumphrey Memorial, to be designated at a later date, and may be sent in care of Melby Mortuary, PO Box 384, Mankato, Kansas, 66956.

Melby Mortuary of Mankato assisted the Pumphrey family with these arrangements, www.melbymortuary.com