New Mexico Obituaries
Santa Fe New Mexican 03/21/1906
W. G. Higginbotham (????-1906) TX
Alamogordo, March 21-W.G. Higginbotham of Fannin County, Texas, was burned to death and other occupants scarcely escaped a similar fate when the ten room Gatlin boarding house was destroyed by fire at 4:30 o'clock yesterday morning. Mr. Gatlin, proprietor of the boarding house, was seriously burned but will recover. The house and all its furnishings were burned to the ground, and with the exception of $2000 insurance the proprietor will suffer a total loss. At first it was believed that the fire was the work of a murderer who had set the building on fire to cover up his crime. The justice of the peace was called and empanelled a coroners' jury, which reached the conclusion that the fire had been caused by electrical wires and that the direct cause of Higginbotham's death was a shock from these wires.
Albuquerque Journal 05/31/1952
Ralph R. Higginbotham (1922-1952) OK/NM
Funeral Service For Slain Officer At Hatch Today
Funeral services were slated today at 3 o'clock this afternoon in Hatch for Ralph Higginbotham, 32-year-old Dona Ana County deputy sheriff who died in a Memorial Day shooting.
The services were slated at St. John's Methodist Church in Hatch, with Rev. Donald Simms officiating. State Senator James P. Brewer will assist.
Meanwhile, James Oliver Morgan, 52, is held without bond under charges of slaying the officer late Thursday night. No motive has been established for the killing, and theory expressed that Morgan had a criminal record were exploded when his record from FBI laboratories in Washington showed no previous arrests.
Stopped Speeder
Higginbotham and a fellow officer, Town Marshal Guy F. Dunivan of Hatch, were cut down in a volley of gunfire when they stopped a car identified as Morgan's at the outskirts of Hatch. Dunivan is recovering from a shoulder wound.
Officers said Morgan has "a few days" in which to obtain an attorney or face preliminary on first-degree murder. He has vainly sought an attorney to represent him since he pleaded innocent at arraignment here Saturday.
If he is bound over to action of the district court after a preliminary, the court will appoint a lawyer to represent him in district court trial.
Wounded Three Times
Higginbotham died at a local hospital after he was wounded at least three times from a .45 caliber automatic pistol. Morgan has admitted ownership of the .45 caliber automatic in his possession when arrested near Caballo Lake.
The young officer is survived by his widow, Dorothy; three children, Ralph Eugene, Paula Ana and Cheryl, all of Hatch; his mother, Mrs. Walter Gage, and a sister, Mrs. Velma Wilson.
Pall bearers will be Deputy Sheriffs Jim F. Flanagan, Frank Z. Romero, Sheriff Jose M. Viramontes, State Police Sgt. Jerry Brunk, and Patrolmen Leo Teague and Lester G. Raney.
Burial will be in Garden of Memories Cemetery at Hatch.
The Las Vegas Daily Optic 12/27/1955
Ben W. Higginbotham (1890-1955) NM
Ben W. Higginbotham, 65, died this morning in a local hospital where he had been receiving medical care for the past six weeks. Mr. Higginbotham is survived by his widow, Mrs. Anna A. Higginbotham. The remains are in care of the Rogers Mortuary and service arrangements will be announced later.
Las Vegas Daily Optic 12/28/1964
James C. Higginbotham (ca1913-1964) NM
Two persons died in a Christmas Day accident near Santa Fe and two other persons were killed in apparent hit-run incidents.
Killed Christmas Day were James C. Higginbotham, 51, and Pat Brittain, 37, both of Los Alamos. They were killed when the car in which they were both riding hit a bridge abutment on New Mexico 4 near Santa Fe.
Clovis News Journal 01/02/1970
Hazel Lary Higginbotham (1904-1970) NM
Mrs. Higginbotham Services Saturday
A resident of Clovis since 1953, Mrs. Hazel Lary Higginbotham, 65, died Thursday at Memorial Hospital. Mrs. Higginbotham had resided in Melrose from 1926 until 1953.
Survivors include her husband, Gordon, 1220 Hickory; three sons, Calvin Lary, stationed with the Air Force in South Carolina, Benny Lary of Clovis and Otho Lary of California; five daughters, Alleen Hailey of Garland, Tex., Francis Latham of Silver City, Lula Parks of Olathe, Kan., Olitha Chamless of Kempton, Ill., and Blanche Atwell of McKinney, Tex.; 26 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Melrose.
Pall bearers will be Raymond Shumate, Spec Gonzer, Ed Estes, Willy Andrews, Buddy Christesson and Eldon Blackburn.
Burial will be in Melrose Cemetery under the direction of Steed-Todd Funeral Home.
Albuquerque Tribune 02/17/1975
Ruby Mae McMillan Higginbotham (1897-1975) NM
HIGGINBOTHAM-Ruby Mae Higginbotham, 77, and
a resident of
Las Cruces Sun-News 08/11/1976
Cyrell Vince Higginbotham (1893-1976) OK/NM
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday for Cyrell V. Higginbotham, 83, Star Route, Salem, died Monday in Memorial General Hospital. Edward H. McCaskill will officiate at the services to be at the Church of Christ in Hatch with burial to follow in the Garden of Memories Cemetery.
Survivors include his wife, Ella; two sons, Vince V. Higginbotham, Scottsdale, Ariz. and Charlie L. Higginbotham, Salem; five daughters, Mrs. Camilla A. Deal, Farmington, Mrs. Mildred M. Willis, Hobbs, Mrs. June J. Mims, Las Cruces; Mrs. Betty J. Hart, Alta Loma, Tex., Mrs. Clydean F. Criner, Mountain Home, Idaho; 16 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Fontaine Porter, Dennison Sims, Clinton Wilkinson, Carl Sims, Jimmy Whillock, Dale Parnell.
Arrangements are by Getz Funeral Home.
The Santa Fe New Mexican 07/12/1990
Bette Batey Higginbotham (1928-1990) PA/CO/NM
HIGGINBOTHAM, Bette 62 – A resident of New Mexico for the past 4 years, previously of Colorado Springs, Colorado passed away on Friday, July 6th following a lengthy illness. Mrs. Higginbotham was born in Dallas, Pennsylvania on July 4, 1928. For many years she was the Executive Secretary for Colorado Sintered Metals in Colorado Springs. She was very active as a former Senior Regent of the Women of The Moose Lodge in Colorado Springs. She is survived by her children: Lynn A. McCallson of Santa Fe, Thomas M. Batey and Robert J. Batey of Colorado Springs; and former spouse, Thomas A. Batey. Private services for the family have already been held.
Roswell Daily Record 04/13/2003
Donna Faye Shaw Higginbotham
Mrs. Donna Faye Higginbotham passed away
April 4, 2003, in her home here in
Donna was born April 10, 1927, in
Donna is survived by her sons, Bruce
Spangler and Scott Fletcher; daughters-in-law, Julie Spangler and Maria
Fletcher; and grandchildren, Harley and Cody Spangler, Karen, Bekah and Jared
Fletcher.
Private family graveside services were held April 10. Services are under the direction of Anderson-Bethany Funeral Home and Crematory.
Avalanche-Journal 02/01/2007
Mary Alice Higginbotham Butler (1924-2007) NM
Mary Alice Higginbotham Butler, 82, of Lovington, N.M., and formerly Jal, N.M., died Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2007. Graveside services will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Cooper Cemetery in Jal, N.M. Stevens Funeral Home in Lovington, N.M.
08/06/2012
James Arnold Higginbotham Jr. (1922-2012) OH/NM
HIGGINBOTHAM -- JAMES ARNOLD JR. died Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012, in the Vista Care hospice unit at Lovelace Medical Center, Albuquerque, after a long illness. He marked his 90th birthday on April 19, 2012. A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Jim served in the U.S. Army during World War II, attaining the rank of staff sergeant in the anti-aircraft artillery corps. After the war, Jim married a nurse, Frances Taylor, from Russell, KY. They marked their 66th wedding anniversary on May 25th. Jim attended Ohio State University, earning a bachelor's degree in agricultural engineering. He worked for the Ford Company's tractor division until his retirement in 1986. By that time, he had become service manager for North America for Ford's Tractor and Implement Division, in its Troy, Mich., headquarters. He and Frances moved to Albuquerque in 1987 to be near two of their daughters, Kathy (Miguel) Diaz and Jacqui (Charles) Cross. They also raised a third daughter, Bonnie (Kirk) Fraser, Wilmore, Ky., and a son, James A. (Janice) Higginbotham III, Brunswick, Maine. Jim is also survived by nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and one sister, Virginia Jo (Jack) Kemp, Milford, Ohio. He was preceded in death by his parents, James A. and Frances S. Higginbotham; a sister, Rose Giffin, and a brother, Kenneth Higginbotham. Jim was an elder at the Mountainside Church of Christ and was active in a local woodworking group for several years. Services at Mountainside Church of Christ, 12300 Indian School Rd. NE.
North Platte Telegraph 10/12/2013
John Errol Higginbotham (1949-2013) NE/NM
John Errol Higginbotham, born in North Platte, on Feb. 18, 1949, to Helen Yates Higginbotham and Willie Higginbotham, went peacefully to be with God and his family in heaven on Oct. 10, 2013, surrounded by his much-loved family and special friends in Santa Fe, N.M. John graduated from North Platte High School in 1967 and proudly served in the 1st Calvary of the United States Army from 1969-71. He served in Vietnam and received many medals, including a Bronze Star and Air Medal. He returned to North Platte, where he and his brother, Daryl, were started in business by their loving aunt and uncle, Millie and Roger Grosh. They ran Roger's Restaurant in the community for 40 years, retiring in November 2011. Preceding him in death were his father, Willie John Higginbotham; his sisters, Marcia, Ronna and Janis Higginbotham; his wife, Jan Higginbotham; and uncle, Roger Grosh. He is survived by his mother, Helen Higginbotham; his brother, Daryl Higginbotham; his sisters, Debbie Higginbotham and Lisa Higginbotham Arnold; Jan's children, Dan and Doug Baker, Jennie, Bart and David Shelton; his nieces, Erica and Andrea Kraetz, Cassidy and Savanna Arnold; his nephew, Logan Arnold; his aunts, Millie Grosh, Florence Yates Peterson and Louise Houghtelling, as well as many grandchildren and cousins. Special friends present at his death were Patty Witham and Denez Lopez. He is loved by many and will be missed. May God bless his journey. Memorials are suggested to the VFW or the Humane Society. Online condolences may be shared at carpentermemorial.com. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 16, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Fort McPherson National Cemetery with military honors. Rosary will be at 7 p.m., today, at Carpenter Memorial Chapel. Visitation will be from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., today, with family receiving friends from 6-7 p.m., prior to the rosary at Carpenter Memorial Chapel.
Alamogordo Daily News 05/19/2017
Vince Vann Higginbotham Sr. (1922-2017) OK/NM
Born in Springer, OK to Cyrell Vince & Ella Ardell (Griffin) Higginbotham. Raised in the Rio Grande Valley in Salem NM. Played football for the Hatch Union High School Bears. Graduated high school in 1940. Veteran of WWII having served in the Merchant Marines. Moved to Arizona and worked for the USGS from 1953 to his retirement. Lived most of his adult life in Arizona. Hard working man even after he lost his sight to macular degeneration and his strength to heart disease. Vince was a member of the church of Christ all his life and was praying up until he drew his last breath. Vince was predeceased by his wife of 72 years, Marjorie (Sanders) Higginbotham, on May 27, 2016. Vince is survived by 3 children Vince Higginbotham Jr of Alamogordo, NM, Joel Higginbotham of Phoenix, AZ and Nancy Cowley of Alamogordo, NM; 9 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren, 1 brother, Charlie Higginbotham of Salem, NM, 2 sisters, Betty Jean Hart of Dallas, TX and Clydean Criner of Mountain Home, ID and numerous nieces and nephews. Many thanks to the VA Hospital in Albuquerque for their excellent care and concern during his last few days. Pop was loved by many and will be greatly missed.