Gale Higgins

Gale Higgins, age 87, a well-known farmer and cattleman, passed away Tuesday, September 22, 2009 at Barton County Memorial Hospital in Lamar.        Gale was born April 10, 1922 at the family home in Dade County to Jay and Elsie (Burke) Higgins.  On December 25, 1942, at Webb City, Missouri, he married Nellie Mae Cones and they farmed and raised livestock in Dade County for many years.  Always active in his community, Gale held various offices in many organizations including the American and Missouri Polled Herford Association, M.F.A. and Co-op, MoKan, and Southwest Missouri Cattlemen’s Association.  He was elected into the Missouri Polled Herford Hall of Fame in December 1992.  Gale served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was a member of Lamar V.F.W. Post 3691.        Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Nellie Higgins of the home; a son and daughter-in-law, Lary & Mary Higgins, Jerico Springs; a brother, Harold & wife Mary Higgins, Lamar; a sister, June Miles, Lamar; four sisters-in-law, Lorene Higgins, Evyln Higgins & Helen Higgins all of Lamar, Ina Aeschlimann, Pekin, Illinois; a brother-in-law Lee Cones, West Palm Beach, Florida; two grandchildren and their spouses, Mark & Amanda Higgins, Pittsburg, and Jalyn & Jimmy Lair, Carl Junction; five great-grandchildren, Blake, Gabriel, Briel, & Emma Higgins and Christopher Lair; many nephews and nieces; a large extended family; and a host of friends.  He was preceded in death by his parents and four brothers, J.B., Glenn, Ray, & Oren Higgins.        Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday at Daniel Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 6:00 until 7:00 p.m. Friday.  Burial will be in Greenfield Cemetery south of Jerico Springs with military honors conducted by Lamar V.F.W. Post 3691.        Memorial contributions are suggested to Greenfield Cemetery in care of Daniel Funeral Home.        This obituary may be viewed and condolences sent at www.danielfuneralhome.net