CREVE COEUR - Vivian Eileen Higdon, 82, of Creve Coeur passed away and succumbed to congestive heart failure on Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, at 12:20 a.m.
Born July 7, 1930, in Peoria, Ill., to Maria Johanna Carolina Thurman and Frederick Heinrich Adolf Moritz, Vivian married the late Leslie Higdon on Dec. 3, 1949, in Glasford, Ill.
Surviving are four daughters, Cheryl (David) Sinclair, Elizabeth (Wally) Born, Barbara (Roger) Wrench and Angela (Carl) Roth; three sons, James (Sandy) Higdon, Dennis (Betty) Higdon and Roger (Melony) Higdon; 20 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren and one sister, Virginia Bohannon.
One sister, four brothers and one granddaughter preceded her in death.
Vivian was raised in the 1100 block of Springfield Road in East Peoria at a time it was open countryside and without indoor plumbing. She enjoyed a long and rich life. She was waitressing at Knobby's restaurant in East Peoria when she met her husband-to-be. Soon they were married, building a house and raising a family. With interests spanning sewing, gardening, canning, baking, camping, fishing and domestic and international travel, she still found time to volunteer. Vivian was active with PTA, Cub Scouts, held offices in the Creve Coeur Women's Club and the 16th District General Federation of Women's Club and was 10-year chair of the Fort Crevecoeur Rendezvous. As a re-enactor of French fur trader villages, Vivian sewed her own period garb and spent many a night in her own authentic tepee at various rendezvous events around the country. For her efforts, she was made honorary member of the Skunk Hollow Muzzleloaders, the Mackinaw Valley Long Rifles and the Troupes de la Marine, even though she'd never fired a musket! As the children grew up and her homemaker duties diminished, Vivian shifted more of her energies to public service to Creve Coeur and the area. Named Woman of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce, she was on various advisory committees for the Village Board, served as village trustee, board member for Groveland Township and activities director for the community center. An expert history and genealogy researcher, Vivian authored a highly regarded book on Creve Coeur's history from 1680 to 1998. She was a past officer of the East Peoria Historical Society and contributing writer to their newsletter and member of the Tazewell County Historical Society, Tazewell County Society of Historical Places and Museum and the Griggsville Area Genealogical and Historical Society. Vivian was recognized in 2001 as Grand Marshal of the Creve Coeur Family Day parade and received a Woman of Achievement Award from the state. One of the legacies she leaves is a wealth of documented family history and family recipes. Vivian will be most remembered by her family for her unselfishness of time and impartial expressions of love. All her hugs and kisses were sincere, strong and evenly distributed. She always said, and showed it in love, that each member of her family was special in his or her own way, and her children's spouses were just like adding more sons and daughters to the family. Vivian was a longtime member of the First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ in Creve Coeur.
The family expresses gratitude for the doctors and staff of HeartCare Midwest and OSF Medical Group of Morton, who helped Vivian maintain her physical vigor, and to Pastor Dwight for spiritually nurturing her, right up until she was called home by the Lord.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Creve Coeur. Pastor Dwight Winnett will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Fondulac Cemetery in East Peoria.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ in Creve Coeur or to the Tazewell County Historical Society.
Journal Star ( Peoria, IL) - August 14, 2012
Thanks to contibutor, Jeanette for links to her parents.
Born July 7, 1930, in Peoria, Ill., to Maria Johanna Carolina Thurman and Frederick Heinrich Adolf Moritz, Vivian married the late Leslie Higdon on Dec. 3, 1949, in Glasford, Ill.
Surviving are four daughters, Cheryl (David) Sinclair, Elizabeth (Wally) Born, Barbara (Roger) Wrench and Angela (Carl) Roth; three sons, James (Sandy) Higdon, Dennis (Betty) Higdon and Roger (Melony) Higdon; 20 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren and one sister, Virginia Bohannon.
One sister, four brothers and one granddaughter preceded her in death.
Vivian was raised in the 1100 block of Springfield Road in East Peoria at a time it was open countryside and without indoor plumbing. She enjoyed a long and rich life. She was waitressing at Knobby's restaurant in East Peoria when she met her husband-to-be. Soon they were married, building a house and raising a family. With interests spanning sewing, gardening, canning, baking, camping, fishing and domestic and international travel, she still found time to volunteer. Vivian was active with PTA, Cub Scouts, held offices in the Creve Coeur Women's Club and the 16th District General Federation of Women's Club and was 10-year chair of the Fort Crevecoeur Rendezvous. As a re-enactor of French fur trader villages, Vivian sewed her own period garb and spent many a night in her own authentic tepee at various rendezvous events around the country. For her efforts, she was made honorary member of the Skunk Hollow Muzzleloaders, the Mackinaw Valley Long Rifles and the Troupes de la Marine, even though she'd never fired a musket! As the children grew up and her homemaker duties diminished, Vivian shifted more of her energies to public service to Creve Coeur and the area. Named Woman of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce, she was on various advisory committees for the Village Board, served as village trustee, board member for Groveland Township and activities director for the community center. An expert history and genealogy researcher, Vivian authored a highly regarded book on Creve Coeur's history from 1680 to 1998. She was a past officer of the East Peoria Historical Society and contributing writer to their newsletter and member of the Tazewell County Historical Society, Tazewell County Society of Historical Places and Museum and the Griggsville Area Genealogical and Historical Society. Vivian was recognized in 2001 as Grand Marshal of the Creve Coeur Family Day parade and received a Woman of Achievement Award from the state. One of the legacies she leaves is a wealth of documented family history and family recipes. Vivian will be most remembered by her family for her unselfishness of time and impartial expressions of love. All her hugs and kisses were sincere, strong and evenly distributed. She always said, and showed it in love, that each member of her family was special in his or her own way, and her children's spouses were just like adding more sons and daughters to the family. Vivian was a longtime member of the First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ in Creve Coeur.
The family expresses gratitude for the doctors and staff of HeartCare Midwest and OSF Medical Group of Morton, who helped Vivian maintain her physical vigor, and to Pastor Dwight for spiritually nurturing her, right up until she was called home by the Lord.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Creve Coeur. Pastor Dwight Winnett will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Fondulac Cemetery in East Peoria.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ in Creve Coeur or to the Tazewell County Historical Society.
Journal Star ( Peoria, IL) - August 14, 2012
Thanks to contibutor, Jeanette for links to her parents.
CREVE COEUR - Vivian Eileen Higdon, 82, of Creve Coeur passed away and succumbed to congestive heart failure on Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, at 12:20 a.m.
Born July 7, 1930, in Peoria, Ill., to Maria Johanna Carolina Thurman and Frederick Heinrich Adolf Moritz, Vivian married the late Leslie Higdon on Dec. 3, 1949, in Glasford, Ill.
Surviving are four daughters, Cheryl (David) Sinclair, Elizabeth (Wally) Born, Barbara (Roger) Wrench and Angela (Carl) Roth; three sons, James (Sandy) Higdon, Dennis (Betty) Higdon and Roger (Melony) Higdon; 20 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren and one sister, Virginia Bohannon.
One sister, four brothers and one granddaughter preceded her in death.
Vivian was raised in the 1100 block of Springfield Road in East Peoria at a time it was open countryside and without indoor plumbing. She enjoyed a long and rich life. She was waitressing at Knobby's restaurant in East Peoria when she met her husband-to-be. Soon they were married, building a house and raising a family. With interests spanning sewing, gardening, canning, baking, camping, fishing and domestic and international travel, she still found time to volunteer. Vivian was active with PTA, Cub Scouts, held offices in the Creve Coeur Women's Club and the 16th District General Federation of Women's Club and was 10-year chair of the Fort Crevecoeur Rendezvous. As a re-enactor of French fur trader villages, Vivian sewed her own period garb and spent many a night in her own authentic tepee at various rendezvous events around the country. For her efforts, she was made honorary member of the Skunk Hollow Muzzleloaders, the Mackinaw Valley Long Rifles and the Troupes de la Marine, even though she'd never fired a musket! As the children grew up and her homemaker duties diminished, Vivian shifted more of her energies to public service to Creve Coeur and the area. Named Woman of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce, she was on various advisory committees for the Village Board, served as village trustee, board member for Groveland Township and activities director for the community center. An expert history and genealogy researcher, Vivian authored a highly regarded book on Creve Coeur's history from 1680 to 1998. She was a past officer of the East Peoria Historical Society and contributing writer to their newsletter and member of the Tazewell County Historical Society, Tazewell County Society of Historical Places and Museum and the Griggsville Area Genealogical and Historical Society. Vivian was recognized in 2001 as Grand Marshal of the Creve Coeur Family Day parade and received a Woman of Achievement Award from the state. One of the legacies she leaves is a wealth of documented family history and family recipes. Vivian will be most remembered by her family for her unselfishness of time and impartial expressions of love. All her hugs and kisses were sincere, strong and evenly distributed. She always said, and showed it in love, that each member of her family was special in his or her own way, and her children's spouses were just like adding more sons and daughters to the family. Vivian was a longtime member of the First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ in Creve Coeur.
The family expresses gratitude for the doctors and staff of HeartCare Midwest and OSF Medical Group of Morton, who helped Vivian maintain her physical vigor, and to Pastor Dwight for spiritually nurturing her, right up until she was called home by the Lord.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Creve Coeur. Pastor Dwight Winnett will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Fondulac Cemetery in East Peoria.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ in Creve Coeur or to the Tazewell County Historical Society.
Journal Star ( Peoria, IL) - August 14, 2012
Thanks to contibutor, Jeanette for links to her parents.
Born July 7, 1930, in Peoria, Ill., to Maria Johanna Carolina Thurman and Frederick Heinrich Adolf Moritz, Vivian married the late Leslie Higdon on Dec. 3, 1949, in Glasford, Ill.
Surviving are four daughters, Cheryl (David) Sinclair, Elizabeth (Wally) Born, Barbara (Roger) Wrench and Angela (Carl) Roth; three sons, James (Sandy) Higdon, Dennis (Betty) Higdon and Roger (Melony) Higdon; 20 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren and one sister, Virginia Bohannon.
One sister, four brothers and one granddaughter preceded her in death.
Vivian was raised in the 1100 block of Springfield Road in East Peoria at a time it was open countryside and without indoor plumbing. She enjoyed a long and rich life. She was waitressing at Knobby's restaurant in East Peoria when she met her husband-to-be. Soon they were married, building a house and raising a family. With interests spanning sewing, gardening, canning, baking, camping, fishing and domestic and international travel, she still found time to volunteer. Vivian was active with PTA, Cub Scouts, held offices in the Creve Coeur Women's Club and the 16th District General Federation of Women's Club and was 10-year chair of the Fort Crevecoeur Rendezvous. As a re-enactor of French fur trader villages, Vivian sewed her own period garb and spent many a night in her own authentic tepee at various rendezvous events around the country. For her efforts, she was made honorary member of the Skunk Hollow Muzzleloaders, the Mackinaw Valley Long Rifles and the Troupes de la Marine, even though she'd never fired a musket! As the children grew up and her homemaker duties diminished, Vivian shifted more of her energies to public service to Creve Coeur and the area. Named Woman of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce, she was on various advisory committees for the Village Board, served as village trustee, board member for Groveland Township and activities director for the community center. An expert history and genealogy researcher, Vivian authored a highly regarded book on Creve Coeur's history from 1680 to 1998. She was a past officer of the East Peoria Historical Society and contributing writer to their newsletter and member of the Tazewell County Historical Society, Tazewell County Society of Historical Places and Museum and the Griggsville Area Genealogical and Historical Society. Vivian was recognized in 2001 as Grand Marshal of the Creve Coeur Family Day parade and received a Woman of Achievement Award from the state. One of the legacies she leaves is a wealth of documented family history and family recipes. Vivian will be most remembered by her family for her unselfishness of time and impartial expressions of love. All her hugs and kisses were sincere, strong and evenly distributed. She always said, and showed it in love, that each member of her family was special in his or her own way, and her children's spouses were just like adding more sons and daughters to the family. Vivian was a longtime member of the First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ in Creve Coeur.
The family expresses gratitude for the doctors and staff of HeartCare Midwest and OSF Medical Group of Morton, who helped Vivian maintain her physical vigor, and to Pastor Dwight for spiritually nurturing her, right up until she was called home by the Lord.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Creve Coeur. Pastor Dwight Winnett will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Fondulac Cemetery in East Peoria.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ in Creve Coeur or to the Tazewell County Historical Society.
Journal Star ( Peoria, IL) - August 14, 2012
Thanks to contibutor, Jeanette for links to her parents.
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