Shirley Jean Higgins, age 88, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Monday, September 2, 2024, at the Mercy Hospital in Pittsburg, Kansas. She was born February 24, 1936, in Richards, Missouri, the daughter of John Logan Zimmerman and Effie Charlotte Debus Zimmerman.
Shirley graduated from the Richards High School with the Class of 1954. While in high school, Shirley excelled at basketball. Following graduation, she was invited to play basketball with the Redettes, a traveling women’s basketball team. Shirley declined the offer and instead married Clyde Richard Higgins on August 13, 1954, at Nevada, Missouri.
In earlier years, Shirley worked at Aren’s Produce and also as a meat cutter for Food Town in Ft. Scott. Following the birth of her son, Shirley began providing babysitting services out of her home. She continued to babysit for over fifty years and provided care to countless area children. She later worked eleven years for Community Care Connection where she provided in home care for the elderly and disabled.
Shirley loved to garden, play cards and watch KU basketball. She had a tender heart for animals. The children she babysat remember the menagerie of animals she kept in her backyard including the many bottle-fed baby squirrels. Shirley also enjoyed taking car rides with her family. She was a member of Community Christian Church.
Survivors include her three children, (Clyde)Terry Higgins (Lynne) of Carl Junction, Missouri, Teresa Jean Higgins (Paul) and Tammy Sue Ekis (Jerry) all of Ft. Scott and three grandchildren, Terra Higgins of Carl Junction, Missouri, Andrew Clyde Higgins (Savanna) of Siesta Key, Florida and Hunter Ekis of Ft. Scott. Also surviving are the numerous children she babysat over the years.
Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Clyde, on January 24, 2008. She was also preceded in death by a half-brother, Dean Zimmerman and a half-sister, Rachel Minor.
Rev. Chuck Russell will conduct funeral services at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, September 7th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Burial will follow in the Newton Burial Park in Nevada, Missouri.
The family will receive friends on Saturday from 10:00 A.M. until service time at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Memorials are suggested to Paws & Claws Animal Shelter of Care to Share and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.