Horace Samuel Higgins "Sam" passed into the Hands of Our Lord, June 15th, 2021, at the age of 95 years. A member of the Greatest Generation, he was also the last of his family's generation and the true Patriarch of the next one. Born August 27, 1925, to Clarence Albert and Agnes Elizabeth {Groff} Higgins of Hays, Kansas. Father Clarence passed when Sam was three years old.
While growing up during the great depression and dust bowl days of Kansas, Sam was mentored by his uncle Fred Higgins of Logan, Kansas. Sam attended Hays High School where he lettered in basketball and graduated in 1943. He went on to join and serve during WWII in the Army Air Corps. Sam was then married to Mary Jane Johnson {daughter of Bertha (Brown) and Sophus Johnson} at her family farm in Ellis County Kansas June 21, 1947.
Together they started a family while
Sam worked and went to college at Fort Hays State where he earned a
Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry and then went on to earn a
Master of Science Degree. Shortly thereafter Sam accepted a position in
the Analytical Department of the Dow Chemical Co. In 1951 the young
family moved to Midland, Michigan. By 1955 they settled into a new built home in
what was then a new sub division called Airfield Lane. This was about
the same time the new elementary and high school were being built. By
1961 the family had grown to include nine children, five boys and four
girls.
Sam was an avid Midland Chemic football fan, having three sons that
played for MHS. In younger days Sam also enjoyed bowling and square
dancing with Mary, softball, and taking the family on yearly trips back
to Kansas to visit relatives and up to Higgins Lake several times every
summer. The football tradition went on as a family event, and when Sam
couldn't make the games in person; you could find him sitting near the
radio listening to the play by play or watching the replay on MCTV. Sam
retired from Dow Chemical in 1982 and enjoyed a lengthy retirement. He
also enjoyed many of the neighbors that got together year after year for
picnics at one of the nearby Airfield Lane homes.
Sam was preceded in death by his parents; his dearly beloved wife
Mary Jane of 61 years, son Samuel Wayne of Midland, son Richard Charles
of Midland; daughter Susan Ann and {Gerald} White of Cypress Texas, also
by his sisters, Betty Belle {Edward-"Beck"} Beckmeyer of Florida;
Arbutus Elaine {TJ} Skelley of Colorado, and all of his brother and
sister in-laws; Robert {Florence} Johnson-Ellis Kansas, Charles {Betty}
Johnson-Wauneta Nebraska, Alice {Johnson} Fleming -Hays Kansas, John
{Margorie} Johnson- Hays Kansas, Reiny and Margaret {Johnson}
Boschowitzki-Ellis Kansas.
Sam is survived by his son Roger William of Ypsilanti MI, son Paul
Emerson {Cathy} of Midland, daughter Barbara Jean of Westlake OH.
daughter Margaret Christine of Palacios Texas, son Douglas George
{JoAnn} of Onsted MI, daughter Mary Beth {Thom} Spencer of Grosse Pointe
Woods MI. Sam is also survived by 18 grandchildren and 18 great
grandchildren. Many, nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life will take place at a later date. Those
considering an expression of condolence, please feel free to choose your
favorite charity in remembrance. Arrangements have been entrusted to
the care of the Ware Smith Woolever Funeral Directors.