David Alan Higgins (71), of Mount Olive, peacefully passed away on April 17 at HSHS St. Johns hospital in Springfield, surrounded by family.
He was born August 23, 1953, in Litchfield, Illinois. He graduated from Litchfield High School in 1971 and received a Bachelors of Art in Music Composition and Theory from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 1976.
David married Patricia Higgins (Casey) in 1978. Together they had three sons: Robert (born 1980, deceased), Jeffrey (born 1981), and Andrew (born 1987). He was a lifelong teacher of music.
In 1984, after moving with his family to Minier, Illinois, he founded Dave Higgins Music Services, where he taught guitar, bass, piano, and banjo, as well as tuned pianos, until 2015, when he retired. After retirement, he and Patricia moved from Minier to Mount Olive, to be closer to family.
David is survived by his mother, Roberta Higgins (Priori); his wife, Patricia; his sons, Jeffrey and Andrew; a sister, Cathy (Marty) Dillard; a brother, John (Kim) Higgins; and two doting cats, Shadow and Rudy. He was preceded in death by his father, Melvin Higgins, and his firstborn son, Robert Higgins.
David loved his music, his family, his friends, and his cats. He enjoyed the finer things in life: Cardinals baseball, watching a storm roll in, summer vacations in State and Federal parks, and sitting on the front steps watching the world roll by. He also liked listening to the TV. He is dearly missed by all who knew him, and by a few who only heard about him.
Memorials may be made to Benld United Methodist Church. Visitation is on Saturday, May 3 from 10:00 to 11:30 at Benld United Methodist Church, with funeral services following at 11:30.
Following the funeral, there will be a Celebration of Life at Lake Lou Yaeger in Litchfield, Picnic Area #4, at 1:00 pm. All are welcome to attend.
Anyone wishing to send an online condolence may do so at www.kravanyafuneral.com.
Kravanya Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
