James Stephen Higgins

James “Jim” Stephen Higgins, 93, passed away on Oct. 11 surrounded by loving family after fighting a brave battle with cancer. Jim is survived by eight of his 10 children, Dr. Patrick Higgins of Colorado Springs, CO; Debbie Vlasz of Streamwood, IL; Jim Higgins and wife, Brenda, of Kirksville; Janet Patterman and husband, Joseph, of Kirksville; Danny Higgins and wife, Renee, of Burnsville, MN; Shelly Christopher and husband, Gaylen, of Fleming, CO; Mike Higgins of Nashville, TN; Jennifer Dice and husband, Barry, of Muscle Shoals, AL. He is also survived by 21 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.

He was greeted in heaven by the love of his life, Barbara Clark, who he married in 1953 and cared for after her stroke in 2008 until she passed in 2018. Joining the welcoming crew were his parents, Tom and Lavena; his infant daughter, Bernadette; son, Chris; his brother Tom; sister Barbara; and granddaughter, Amber, along with a number of his past parish priests.

Despite his 5’6” stature, Jim was a stand-out basketball player at Kirksville High School and played for Northeast Missouri State Teachers’ College before joining the Navy. While in the Navy, he married Barbara and began his family, with a baby born annually for the next 10 years. After the Navy, he and Barbara moved back to their hometown of Kirksville, where he worked for the Post Office for 32 years, retiring in 1987. He refereed high school basketball in the area for many years.

Jim loved his family, Notre Dame football, a good cold beer, St. Patrick’s Day and his church – but not necessarily in that order of priority. He had the philosophy that he should have a little fun in every day and he tried to live that. The Angels in Heaven better pucker up because they’ll be getting some big kisses when Jim arrives.

The Playle-Rimer-Millard Family Funeral Chapel is honored to care for the Higgins family during this time.