Beulah Grace Ruby Higdon
Beulah Grace Ruby Higdon, age 91, of Du Quoin, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, May 17, 2013, having lived a long and satisfying life. Her final days were spent surrounded by her children, family, and friends, whose lives Beulah touched in memorable and meaningful ways.
With gospel music in her heart and a perpetual smile upon her face, she was born on Dec. 12, 1921, to the late Elias and Mary Ruby, in La Junta, Colo. She lived the majority of her life in Albuquerque, N.M. As a young girl, she traveled with her evangelistic family and played the piano in their musical performances. Beulah married the one and only love of her life, the late Hugh J. Higdon in 1940 and worked as a highly valued high school cafeteria manager until she retired in 1975. As a widow she relocated to Du Quoin in 1985 to live near her beloved brother, Don Ruby, and wife Vera.
Whether working as a community volunteer with the Pink Lady Auxiliary for Presbyterian Hospital in New Mexico, delivering meals on wheels for Gold Plate locally, or serving in numerous church capacities over the course of her entire life, Beulah actively demonstrated her love for God by serving people. She was a member at Gospel Assembly.
Beulah will be especially remembered for her youthful fun-loving spunk, quick dry wit, inquisitive need-to-know mind, cell-phone-talking game-show-watching ways, and the best Mexican food cuisine this side of the Mississippi. Her quiet, peaceful countenance as she traveled the final phase of this lifeÃs journey was godly inspiration to those who were blessed to walk through this season of her life alongside her.
She is survived by three children: Ralph D. Higdon and James H. and Carol Higdon of Albuquerque, N.M. and Sandra K. Norman of Du Quoin, Ill.; 10 grandchildren: Melonie and Robert Wilson, Daniel and Tonya Higdon, Ryan Higdon, Jaenene and Bruce Morrow, Christopher Higdon and Donny and Tonya Higdon; 16 great grandchildren: Billy, Tanner, Davery, Shaya, Shane, Amber, Taylor, Kelby, Tasha, Candice, Reaven, Bell, Laramie, Ramey, Larry, Andrew, Deseray, Brianna, Kayla and 12 great great grandchildren: Payton, Logan, Clayton, Colton, Dakota, Rileigh, Rhein, Haze, Noelle, Ben, Rusty, Laney, Josie and Karina.
Beulah is also survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Eldo and Fran Ruby of Little Rock, Ark., and was preceded in death by her granddaughter, Rhonda Lynn Higdon and four siblings: Austin Ruby, Viola Spelts, Anna Lancaster and Don Ruby.
A celebration of Beulah's life will be held at Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin on Thursday, May 23, 2013. Visitation is from 9:00-11:00 a.m. and the service will be held immediately following at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Joe Wagner and Bro. Mark Norris officiating. Burial will take place at Sunset Memorial Park in Du Quoin.
Friends may make memorials to the Fairview Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center Activity Fund and will be accepted at the funeral home.
For additional information or to sign the memorial guest register, please visit www.searbyfuneralhomes.com.