Formerly of Macomb
Keren Marie Humphrey, formerly of Macomb, IL, Williamsburg, VA, and Decatur, GA, died Dec 19, 2025 in Rockwall, TX. Born in 1951 in Atlanta, GA, Keren was the daughter of Amy Riser Harrington and C.F. Humphrey. She received her BA from the University of Georgia, M.Div. from Emory University, and Ed.D. from The College of William and Mary in Virginia.
Keren believed strongly in organizing her life according to the ethical principle of altruism, recognizing a moral obligation to help, serve, and benefit others. To this end, Keren’s work careers reflect more than 30 years of experience in the helping professions. She became an ordained United Methodist minister, serving pastorates in Georgia and Virginia for 7 years. She changed career direction into the psychotherapy field, working first as a juvenile probation officer, then becoming a mental health counselor and family therapist in Williamsburg, VA. Later, Keren also worked as a college counselor and in private psychotherapy practice in Macomb, IL. Keren’s third career shift was as a counseling professor, which she did for 18 years, becoming a tenured, full professor at Western Illinois University and later working at Texas A&M University-Commerce.
She considered teaching to be the highest calling of her life. She was a nationally certified counselor and licensed as a clinical counselor in Illinois and Virginia. Keren was a valued and active member of local and national professional counseling organizations, especially the American Counseling Association and the American College Counseling Association. A popular speaker and consultant in the mental health field, Keren was a coauthor of College Counseling: Issues and Strategies for the new Millennium, and the author of Counseling Strategies for Loss and Grief.
Keren met the love of her life, Jim Shelton, on a blind date and promptly fell in love. They were together for nearly 30 years. Anyone who knew them understood how deep their love, joy, and respect for each other was. Keren went about building a new life following Jim’s death in 2012, but did so knowing a significant part of her was missing.
After retirement, Keren turned her attention to travel, genealogy, woodworking, horseback riding, and volunteer activities. Her greatest pleasure came as a volunteer working at Equest Therapeutic Horsemanship and Texas Therapeutic Horsemanship Center, programs that support clients with cognitive, physical, and emotional challenges via equine horsemanship.
Whether she was mucking a stall, tacking a horse, or interacting with clients and volunteers, Keren loved being part of this significant endeavor.
Karen is survived by her brother, C. John (Kathy) Humphrey and numerous nieces and nephews.
Rather than a funeral, Keren asked that her family and friends remember and celebrate her life by helping and serving others.
Contributions in Keren’s memory should be made to any therapeutic riding center, Planned Parenthood, the National Breast Cancer Coalition or any progressive political cause. A celebration of her life at a later date will be held in Rockwall, Texas.
