Obituary for Shirley Gene Higginson
Shirley Higginson (Dyer) was born July 12, 1936 in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains in Sevierville Tennessee to the late Mack and Lena Dyer family.
She was the second youngest of 9 children ( 3 brothers and 6 sisters). Shirley was baptized at the First Baptist Church in Sevierville before she grew old enough to take the trades and skills she learned from her family and friends north to take advantage of the Motor and Manufacturing Booms that took place in the 50s and 60s.
Shirley was a proud American who believed in working hard for whatever you wanted. She persevered through heartbreak and tragedy to achieve her goals. Noteworthy accomplishments in Shirley’s lifetime include becoming a Supervisor of a major sewing and textile plant, where she sewed the first ‘High Altitude Pressure Suit” designed to help pilots survive in high altitudes. The prototype would eventually go on to win her company a military contract to produce the suits for pilots.
Along her journey and most importantly, Shirley found love with Richard, her soulmate of 44 years. After working until an early retirement and then pursuing a successful entrepreneurial venture in Florida, Shirley and Richard retired so that they could travel around America in their camper van and spend more time with their children and grandchildren. Shirley loved her family and cherished the time she spent with them until the very end of her life.
Shirley’s life will be celebrated at Winter Oaks Funeral Home in Winter Garden Florida on Thursday July 30th 2020. A viewing will be held beginning at 6 pm followed by the service at 7 pm.
A separate celebration and internment will be held on Sunday at Laurel Hills Memorial Garden in Young Harris GA where Shirley will be laid to rest next to the love of her life, Richard.
She is preceded in death by her father, mother, and all of her siblings. Also preceding her death is her sweetheart Richard and daughter Mary.
Left to mourn her until we are reunited in Heaven are the following immediate family members:
James and Barbara Shirley (eldest son and daughter-in-law) Renee and Rusty White (youngest daughter and son-in-law) James II and Ginny Shirley (grandson and wife) Tripp and Carter Shirley (great grandchildren)
Tony and Staci Ogburn (grandson and wife) Ryleigh and Chloe Ogburn (great grandchildren)
Jarrod and Scarlette Shirley (grandson and wife)
Eleanor Shirley (great granddaughter) Troy Ogburn and Nikki Kahl (grandson and long time girlfriend)
Katherine White (Granddaughter) Kaia Kaplin (Great Granddaughter) Dalton White (Grandson)
Shirley's arrangements are in the caring guidance of Winter Oak Funeral Home and Cremations,
1132 E. Plant St. Winter Garden, FL 34787
Face mask required.
She was the second youngest of 9 children ( 3 brothers and 6 sisters). Shirley was baptized at the First Baptist Church in Sevierville before she grew old enough to take the trades and skills she learned from her family and friends north to take advantage of the Motor and Manufacturing Booms that took place in the 50s and 60s.
Shirley was a proud American who believed in working hard for whatever you wanted. She persevered through heartbreak and tragedy to achieve her goals. Noteworthy accomplishments in Shirley’s lifetime include becoming a Supervisor of a major sewing and textile plant, where she sewed the first ‘High Altitude Pressure Suit” designed to help pilots survive in high altitudes. The prototype would eventually go on to win her company a military contract to produce the suits for pilots.
Along her journey and most importantly, Shirley found love with Richard, her soulmate of 44 years. After working until an early retirement and then pursuing a successful entrepreneurial venture in Florida, Shirley and Richard retired so that they could travel around America in their camper van and spend more time with their children and grandchildren. Shirley loved her family and cherished the time she spent with them until the very end of her life.
Shirley’s life will be celebrated at Winter Oaks Funeral Home in Winter Garden Florida on Thursday July 30th 2020. A viewing will be held beginning at 6 pm followed by the service at 7 pm.
A separate celebration and internment will be held on Sunday at Laurel Hills Memorial Garden in Young Harris GA where Shirley will be laid to rest next to the love of her life, Richard.
She is preceded in death by her father, mother, and all of her siblings. Also preceding her death is her sweetheart Richard and daughter Mary.
Left to mourn her until we are reunited in Heaven are the following immediate family members:
James and Barbara Shirley (eldest son and daughter-in-law) Renee and Rusty White (youngest daughter and son-in-law) James II and Ginny Shirley (grandson and wife) Tripp and Carter Shirley (great grandchildren)
Tony and Staci Ogburn (grandson and wife) Ryleigh and Chloe Ogburn (great grandchildren)
Jarrod and Scarlette Shirley (grandson and wife)
Eleanor Shirley (great granddaughter) Troy Ogburn and Nikki Kahl (grandson and long time girlfriend)
Katherine White (Granddaughter) Kaia Kaplin (Great Granddaughter) Dalton White (Grandson)
Shirley's arrangements are in the caring guidance of Winter Oak Funeral Home and Cremations,
1132 E. Plant St. Winter Garden, FL 34787
Face mask required.