Obituary of Marian M. Higgins

Marian Meleita Higgins, 89, of Cortland passed away Saturday, January 28, at Crown Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Cortland. Mrs. Higgins, born May 15, 1922 in Cortland, was the daughter of the late Harold and Waneita Lockwood Hines. She attended Cortlands Normal School and graduated from Cortland High School in 1941. She married Louis H. Higgins in 1943 and became a widow in 1960. A long-time resident of Cortland and Homer, Mrs. Higgins also lived a short time in Walton, NY, and El Cajon, CA. During the late 1930s and early 1940s, she sang with the Cortland Trio. She was a member of the First Baptist Church and the United Community Church, both in Cortland. Besides singing in the choir, she held a number of community and church volunteer positions over the years. She worked in the bookstore at SUNY Cortland before retiring. Besides her singing, Mrs. Higgins was also a painter and sketch artist. Mrs. Higgins lived at Walden Place from 2008 to the winter of 2011 at which time she transferred to Crown Center. Mrs. Higgins is survived by sons Barry (wife Yvonne), Cortland; Harold (wife Sandra), Sioux Falls, SD; Alan, Atlanta, GA; and former daughter-in-law and close friend, Karen, Bear, DE. Grandchildren are Timothy Higgins, Detroit, MI; Elizabeth Higgins-Randhawa, Sacramento, CA; David Higgins, Bear, DE; Tanya Nowalk, Chenango Forks, NY; and Christina Kamin, Newfield, NY. She has six great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. The family expresses gratitude to the staff at Crown Center, Walden Place, and St. josephs Cortland Dialysis Center for care preceding her death. Services will be held Saturday, February 4, with Rev. John McCann at the Wright-Beard Funeral Home, 9 Lincoln Ave. in Cortland. Viewing will be held at 12:00 p.m. with the service to follow at 1 p.m. Weather permitting; interment will follow at Cortland Rural Cemetery. Contributions may be made in Mrs. Higgins name to The American Cancer Society. To offer on line condolences visit www. wright-beard.com