Carolyn Ann Higdon
Beloved wife, mother, grandma, aunt, and friend, Carolyn Ann Higdon, left this earthly existence on Friday, March 17th in Concord, CA at the age of 80; surrounded by family.
Born November 11, 1942, in Sikeston, MO to Henry and Alfreda Mae (Oldham) Brashears, Carolyn was a precocious and loving child who grew up to be an energetic and free-spirited soul. Carolyn graduated from Sikeston High School in 1960 and though she’d been accepted to the University of Missouri – Columbia, instead joined the Army, following in her Dad’s footsteps.
Carolyn was sent to Ft. McClellan, AL for basic training and then assigned as a Medical Technician at Ft. Ord, CA where she mustered out in 1961 after she became pregnant. She moved back to Sikeston where she divorced her first husband and rekindled a friendship with Malcolm Higdon; marrying him on April 13th, 1963 and sharing adventures for the next 60yrs.
Carolyn started her working career picking cotton, then moved on to car hop at the Delta Drive-In. Moving to California in September 1963, she was a stay-at-home Mom for ~6yrs, attending Merritt College. She then started her professional life at Rigging International when she left to begin a 22yr civil service career at the VA Hospital in Martinez, CA. From there, Carolyn worked 4yrs at Tripler Army Hospital in Honolulu, HI, 10yrs at the Oakland Naval Hospital in Oakland, CA, finishing at Sutter Hospital and Kaiser Hospital in Oakland, CA.
Though Carolyn was a military wife and career woman, she found time to be the neighborhood Mom and work the Suicide/Crisis Hotline. For designated periods of time, she also served as Ward Clerk, Volleyball Coach, Sunday School Secretary, Genealogy Consultant, and a reservation volunteer to help young native American girls in White River, AZ. Her last volunteer role was Chairwoman of the Allied Council in Yountville, CA.
Carolyn was a member of the Castor River Cherokee Tribe. She was a Renaissance Woman. She was well read. She loved to travel, falling just a couple states short of visiting all 50. And although Carolyn had retired to the California Veterans Home of Yountville in 2014, her two soul-havens were Waimea Bay, HI and Clubb, MO.
Carolyn is survived by her husband, Malcolm Higdon, her children Angela (Bill) Higdon-Henderson of Greenville, MO, Sheila Higdon of Concord, CA, Cheryl Higdon of Concord, CA, and foster-daughter Kari Costello of Everett, WA. She is also survived by 3-grandkids (Annette, Carlin, Patrick), 2-great grandchildren (Alayna, Mia), and numerous extended family and friends.
Preceding Carolyn in death were both of her parents, her brother (Milton/aka. “Butch”) and two foster-children (Chris Costello and Vickie Wogman-Costello).
On Friday, April 14th @ 3pm, a Memorial Service with full military honors will be held at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon, CA. with a reception at the America Legion at 1305 N 1st St. also in Dixon.
*In lieu of flowers, Malcolm Higdon has asked that donations be sent in Memory of Carolyn Higdon to the:
Stoddard County Children’s Home, Inc., P.O. Box 164, Dexter, MO 63841
