John Higgins

Graveside services for John Higgins will be held on Saturday, August 8, 2015 at 11:00 AM from the Cuervo Cemetery in Cuervo, NM. Family members will officiate. Mr. Higgins passed away on Tuesday, August 4, 2015 at the Guadalupe County Hospital in Santa Rosa following an illness. John Robert Higgins, 92, was born on November 30, 1922 in Cuervo, NM to the home of James Frederick and Dea (Waddell) Higgins. He was reared in Cuervo and attended schools in Santa Rosa. He then attended New Mexico State University where he served as the Student Body President and played on the Football Team and Golf Team where he won a tournament in Phoenix, AZ. At the age of 21, John enlisted in the United States Navy where he received the Asiatic Pacific Area Medal, American Area Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, Victory Medal, World War II Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. He was Honorably Discharged in 1943. John married Willa Cooper on November 10, 1949 in Taos, NM. They ranched Northeast of Cuervo for 20 years. He then went to work for the Farmers Home Administration where he retired in 1987 he then went to work for the Fort Sumner Irrigation District for 7 years and also worked for his son and grandson as a plumber’s assistant. John was a member of the Church of Christ. John and his family made their home in Fort Sumner in 1983. He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Willa and his sister Mary Louise Higgins. Survivors include his sons; John R. Higgins, Jr. and wife Eva of Santa Rosa, Frederick L. Higgins of Fort Sumner, Eugene Higgins of Fort Sumner, Joe L. Higgins and wife Theresa of Savanah, GA. His grandchildren; Gerid Higgins and Debbie, Geno James Higgins and Amy, Joseph Higgins and Francisca, Chris Higgins, Shawn Higgins, Annie Higgins, Jennifer Cordova and Daryl, Tamia Higgins, Olivia Higgins and Maren Higgins. All services for Mr. Higgins have been entrusted to the Chavez Funeral Home of Santa Rosa. To place an online condolence please visit our website at www.chavezfuneralhome.com