Herbert Alan Pumphrey

Herbert ‘Alan’ Pumphrey went to be with the Lord on Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Tualatin, Oregon, passing peacefully and surrounded by loved ones. Alan leaves a legacy of loving God, loving others, and being ‘fantastic’ in any and all circumstances.

Alan was born on October 29, 1943, in El Paso, Texas, to Herbert Ewing Pumphrey and Bernice (Mayfield) Pumphrey. In Alan’s youth, the family lived in Mesilla Park, NM, next to his mother’s family, the Mayfields, and he attended Mesilla Park Elementary. The family then moved to Dona Ana, NM, when Alan’s Dad became a partner with Mr. McCarty at McCarty’s Dairy, later to become Romig Dairy. Alan and his sisters would spend hours playing in the pecan orchard and cotton field across from their house. In 1963, Alan graduated from Las Cruces High School.

Alan served in the United States Army from 1964-1967. He was a signal operator for the 9th infantry division during the Vietnam War. Alan was awarded a National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, a Good Conduct Medal, an Overseas Service Bar, and both Marksman and Sharpshooter.            

In 1966, he met and married Mona (Suffridge) Pumphrey. After the military, Alan went to New Mexico State University, where he received his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. He and Mona welcomed their first child in June after graduating. Alan got a temp job with BLM, and they moved to Roswell, NM, for 6 months before the family moved to Las Cruces, NM. In 1972, Alan got a job on the Parks crew for the city of Las Cruces and worked his way through different departments in the city and ended up in Parks & Recreation, retiring after 25 years as the Superintendent of Parks for the City of Las Cruces at the age of 55. Alan and Mona had 5 children along the way.

In 2004, Alan moved to Chama, NM, where he lived in a mountain cabin near El Vado Lake and lived his best life fishing and hanging with Dreamer, his beloved dog. He enjoyed the mountain life for over ten years, and then his health needs moved him to Albuquerque for about two years, where he could be close by his daughter’s family, who helped care for him. In 2016, Alan decided he wanted to see trees again and moved to the Portland area where he spent his remaining years. 

The most important thing to Alan was serving the Lord. He did so in various capacities at Panlaneer Church of Christ (Las Cruces, NM) as an elder, preaching for Chama Valley Church of Christ (Chama, NM), and volunteering at VBS for Southwest Church of Christ (Tigard, OR). He lived a life of loving Christ and loving others well.

Alan has always had a special connection with animals. He could talk for hours telling stories about his and the family’s animals (well not so much the chickens, sorry Layne!), about his sheep, the cattle, his beloved horse, Sandusky, and many canine friends, especially Dreamer.

Alan is proceeded in death by a daughter, Candice Pumphrey; his mother, Bernice (Mayfield) Pumphrey; his father Herbert E. Pumphrey; his stepmother, Laurena (Kennedy) Pumphrey; his sister, Donna (Pumphrey) Shoup; and his stepbrothers, Arlen Kennedy and Stanley Kennedy, and members of the Brown family, who adopted Alan as ‘one of theirs.’

Alan is survived by his children: Brandi (and Atik) Ahmed of Atlanta, GA; Leah (and Ray) Yates of Rio Rancho, NM; Jessica (and Kevin) Wysong of Las Cruces, NM; Suzanne (and Will) Schwisow of Hillsboro, OR; and Caleb (and Fawn) Pumphrey of Newberg, OR; his sister LaLayne (and Darryl) Harwood of Kansas. Alan also leaves behind 9 grandchildren: Nathaniel Costigan, Matthew Costigan, Joshua Yates, Hannah Marquez, Abi Yates, Kyle Wysong, and Addy, Seth, and Jude Schwisow. Alan also had a special place in his heart for his many nieces, nephews, and friends that were family: the Brown family and Gwen Courtney-Shorack. Alan’s love also expanded in his last few years to the caregivers that were like family as well at the Tualatin Marquis Assisted Living. Many, many thanks to them for their partnership and love in caring for our Dad. 

There will be two services for Alan, one in Tigard, Oregon, at Southwest Church of Christ on May 13th at 6pm and one in Las Cruces NM, TBD.

In sitting down to write this obituary, we, his children, realize that there are so many with special stories and places in our dad’s heart. He was that kind of person: he loved others well and never met a stranger. With this in mind, we ask you to write out and share your personal sentiments with us. We’d LOVE to add these memories to Dad’s memory book to reflect on for years and years to come.