Norma Jean Higgins, 83, of Gilmore City, passed away February 15, 2016 at the Long Term Care Unit of the Humboldt County Memorial Hospital. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday at the Faith United Methodist Church in Gilmore City with the Rev. Alberta Ervin officiating. Burial will be in Marble Valley Cemetery, Gilmore City. Visitation is from 10-11 a.m. Friday at the church. The Mason-Lindhart Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Norma Jean Higgins, the daughter of Gerald and Ethel (Wallace) Higgins, was born October 16, 1932 on a farm south of Gilmore City. She received her education at Gilmore City and graduated from Gilmore City High School. Norma Jean spent some time at Camp Sunnyside in Des Moines and made her home with her parents on the farm near Gilmore City. Norma Jean helped manage the family’s four-thousand hen egg farm, one of the largest in Iowa, for many years. Her father passed away in 1970 and she continued to maintain her home with her mother until her mother’s death in 2001. Norma Jean then became a resident of Springvale Independent Living.
Norma Jean was a member of the Faith United Methodist Church in Gilmore City. She was active in Camp Sunnyside’s Homebound Program making rag and yarn rugs. She averaged over 100 rugs a year that were then sold as a fundraiser for Camp Sunnyside. Norma Jean also kept busy mowing lawns for customers in Gilmore City. She enjoyed collecting china dolls, music, and playing cribbage. She especially enjoyed her time at Springvale where she made precious acquaintances and was active in many of the activities especially bingo.
Norma Jean is survived by her brother, Richard Higgins of Humboldt and her sisters-in-law, Doris Higgins of Rolfe, Judy Higgins of Sun City West, AZ, and Esther Johnson of Gilmore City. Several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews also survive her. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Donald and Howard Higgins; and nieces, Linda Bacon and Judy Sharp.