Elizabeth Higgins

In Remembrance of Elizabeth Anne Higgins Elizabeth Anne "Libby" Higgins, an artist who enjoyed travel and spending time with her family, died Jan. 2, 2008 at her home in the Briargrove area of Houston, Texas. She was 78. Libby was born July 29, 1929 in Marlin, Texas to Mary Thomason Higgins and Robert Fountain Higgins. She graduated from Lamar High School in 1947 and attended Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Va. She finished her degree in 1951 from University of Texas, where she majored in art and was a member of the Pi Beta Phi. She further studied art at Parsons School of Design in New York, N.Y. and continued her studies on a trip with friends to Italy, Spain, France and Belgium. In the early 1960s Libby moved from Texas to Colorado, where she worked in Denver for four years and enjoyed sketching and portrait painting. Libby then returned to Texas to be with her mother, where they enjoyed traveling together to visit Hawaii and family in the eastern United States. Libby's work in Houston included helping with travel arrangements at the Humble Travel Club and employment at one of Houston's art galleries. During the late 1990s to 2000 she enjoyed various trips with her sister, nieces and nephews and friends to Hawaii, Alaska, Colorado, Wyoming and England. She was also a supporter of the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston. In later years Libby had a special companion living with her, Lavenia Washington, who helped her in many ways. Lavenia says Libby enjoyed watching "Animal Planet" (especially the Meerkat adventures) on television, as well as travel shows, political analyses and good movies. She was an avid reader of mystery books, biblical archeology, art, travel and politics. Libby's cousins, Jan Cole on piano and Carolyn Sacchi on viola, will help honor Libby’s memory during a memorial service at 2 p.m. Jan.12 at the First Christian Church of Conroe, Texas. Pastor Wes Morgan will officiate. The church is located at 3500 West Loop 336; the phone number is (936)756-3554. Burial will take place at Oakwood Cemetery in Huntsville, followed by a reception for family and close friends at the home of Libby’s cousin, Mary T. Clegg, The Whistler B&B, 11th Street, Huntsville. Libby is survived by her sister, Mary M. Buford Goode of Willis, Texas and her nephews and nieces, and their families: Bob and Gayle Buford of Florida; Betsy and Bob Graham of Connecticut; Kathy and Tom Owen of Saudi Arabia; and Kevin and Cheryl Buford of Virginia. Their families include Megan and Taylor Buford; Tyler and Cassie Graham; Will, Kristina and Christopher Owen; and Jonathan and Kaylyn Buford. Also included in beloved family is her aunt Margaret Cole and her cousins Jan and Tommy Cole, all of Huntsville; Mary Atwell, Priscilla Brown, Mary T. Clegg, Emily Mumford, Bob Maurice and Carolyn T. Sacchi of Houston; Zaidee T. Winton of Corpus Christi; Suzanne Atkinson of Bartlesville, Okla.; Katharine Candors of Columbia, S.C.; and Jim Thomason of Santa Rosa, Calif. All felt a close family bond of love with Libby and rejoice in her New Life in Heaven and Reunions there. In lieu of flowers mourners are asked to send donations to a charity of their choice or one of Libby’s favorites: Resolutions Hospice (www.resolutionshospice.com ); MD Anderson Cancer Center ( www.mdanderson.org ); U.S. English, Inc. (www.us-english.org); and Paralyzed Veterans of America (www.pva.org ). Please see the Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home website for more information, www.shmfh.com. Poem for Elizabeth Higgins For My Sister My heart is deeply saddened at the parting of my Sister, Whene’er I think of times ahead - - how very much I ‘ll miss her But then I’m greatly blessed to think of the lovely times we’ve known, Through infancy and childhood to the times when we were grown: Trips we’ve shared together: Galveston and Jackson Hole, Hawaii and Alaska and New England’s Christmas cold; Reunions with our family, with warmth of joy and love, Times it seemed that we were truly touched by Heaven above. Even trips to doctors where one of us had a need… Dinners out together when we’d share each thought and deed. My sister’s mind has been so bright with memory so keen. I feel the loss of her dear voice and countenance serene. Dear Father, thank You for my precious sister all these years: The love we shared the joys and fun and even our shared tears. Take her in Your Precious Hands away from earth’s great strife Into Your Glorious Heaven where she’ll know Eternal Life. By Mary M. Buford Goode

Elizabeth Higgins

July 29, 1929 - January 12, 2008