Dixie Higgins

Dixie L. Higgins age 78, passed away after coronary failure in the early morning hours of Friday, November 30, 2007. Formerly of York, NE she moved to and resided in Sun City, Arizona since 2003. Dixie was born in Brunswick, Missouri on December 8, 1928 to Charles and Evelyn (Shull) Blake. When she was five, her family moved to Carrollton, Missouri. She graduated from Carrollton High School in 1946. After attending Christian College in Columbia, Missouri majoring in art for one year, she moved with her family to York in 1947. In 1952 Dixie married James P. Higgins and together they owned and operated Higgins Studio for over forty years. Dixie was an award winning photographic artist and oil colorist. She served as president of the Professional Photographers of Nebraska and she and her husband were presented a lifetime achievement award upon retirement in 1990. She also served on the board of “Heart of America” Professional Photographers Association and was a longtime member of Professional Photographers of America. Dixie enjoyed many years of artwork, painting portraitures, embroidery, reading, working crossword puzzles, entertaining and traveling. She excelled in the game of bridge and thoroughly enjoyed the fellowship she shared with her many friends and associates. In addition to her professional duties, her work as a mother, wife and homemaker helped to fulfill the role of a complete individual. Her unselfishness and the giving of her talents, time and energy were obvious to all around her.

Dixie leaves her husband Jim of 55 years. Other survivors include sons and daughters-in-law, James Patrick and Shirley Higgins of Seward, NE Michael and Cecilia Higgins of Reno, NV and daughter and son-in-law Catherine and Scott Von Minden of Lincoln. Dixie also leaves 14 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren and a sister Charlotte Blake of Sun City, AZ. She was preceded in death by her parents, her son Blake T Higgins and a granddaughter Christa Ocken.

A Mass of Christian burial was held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, December 7, 2007 at St Joseph’s Catholic Church in York with Father Mark Tasler officiating. Burial followed in Greenwood Cemetery in York. Memorials may be directed to the family for later designation.