Spring 2004
Volume 111 - No. 1
Spring 2004
Volume 111 - No. 1
Brotherhood Obituaries
|
|
This information is based upon reports filed by the secretary-treasurers of the various BLET Divisions.
Neisha Hahs Humphreys, 1914-2004
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen extends its deepest sympathy to the family of President Don Hahs upon the death of his mother, Neisha Hahs Humphreys, on March 27. Mrs. Humphreys was 89 years old and was a resident of the Harborwood Nursing Home in Clearwater, Fla.
Mrs. Humphreys was born on December 4, 1914 in Cooter, Mo. She married Eugene D. Hahs on March 24, 1934, and after his death in 1969, she married Joseph "Leland" Humphreys in 1970. Mr. Humphreys passed away in 1990.
Mrs. Humphreys is survived by four sisters; two sons, Don and David; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
She was buried on April 2 in Scott City, Mo.
Former Vice-President Carl P. McGuire, 1925-2004
Former International Vice-President Carl Phillip McGuire passed away
after a long illness on February 29 at the Hospice Care Center in Ashland,
Ky.
He was born Sept. 5, 1925, in Ashland to the late Carl L. and Sara Elizabeth Lowcy McGuire.
Brother McGuire hired out as a fireman on the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway in 1943. He earned promotion to locomotive engineer in 1951.
He joined BLE Division 271 on Dec. 10, 1962, which was then located in Covington, Ky. The division later relocated to Russell and Brother McGuire served as local chairman and legislative representative.
In 1969, Brother McGuire became vice chairman of the C&O General Committee and succeeded to the office of General Chairman later that same year. He served in this office for 12 years.
Brother McGuire was elected to the position of Third Alternate International Vice President at the Second Quinquennial Convention in 1976.
Vacancies on the Board moved him up to the first alternate position. In 1979, he was elevated to the position of International Vice-President following the retirement of James R. Birrell.
He served as a Vice-President until the size of the BLE Advisory Board was reduced in a referendum vote by the BLE membership prior to the 1981 convention. At the '81 convention, he won election to the position of Second Alternate International Vice President.
In 1984, Brother McGuire became an International Vice-President once again after the retirement of Charles M. Moore. He remained a Vice-President until his retirement in 1986.
Brother McGuire was a World War II U.S. Army veteran and served in the railroad battalion in Belgium and France.
Brother McGuire is survived by his wife, Melba Jacqueline "Jackie" Lilly McGuire of Ashland; a stepson and his wife, Danny and Bonnie Brumit of Huntington, W.Va.; two brothers and a sister-in-law, E. Patrick McGuire of Ashland and David S. and Louise McGuire of Ironton, Ohio; and a sister, Mary Joan Meece of Walton, Ky.
Contributions in the memory of Brother McGuire may be sent to Hospice Care Center, 2330 Pollard Road, Ashland, Ky. 41101.
Phyllis June Sytsma, 1922-2004
Phyllis and John Sytsma
Phyllis Sytsma, the wife of former BLE International President John F. Sytsma, passed away on January 10, 2004. She fought Alzheimer's disease for more than eight years.
She was born in Paterson, N.J., on Sept. 3, 1922 to Anthony and Ruth Laggner Stingle. She married her high school sweetheart, John Frederick Sytsma, in 1942. She raised two daughters: Jackie and Ruth Ann.
She was a wonderful support to her husband during his years as President of the BLE, traveling with him all over the United States and Canada. Together, they attended many functions in Washington, D.C., including two White House State Dinners. President Sytsma held the Brotherhood's highest office from 1976-1986. He served as First Vice-President from 1974-1976 and as General Secretary-Treasurer from 1962-1974.
When John retired, the couple moved from Cleveland, Ohio, to Utah to be near family.
She is survived by her husband John and two daughters, Jacqueline (Floyd) Pruitt of Dunwoody, Ga., and Ruth (Bruce) Lubbers of Salt Lake City; four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Donations in memory of the deceased may be sent to Camp Kostopulos, Phyllis's favorite charity, at 2500 Emigration Canyon Road, Salt Lake City, UT 84108.
© 2004 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen