Larry Higginbotham

SULA "Life is about QUALITY-not quantity". On Wednesday, July 6, 2011, at the age of 72, Larry Higginbotham surrendered his battle with esophageal cancer and passed away peacefully in the comfort of his home, surrounded by his wife and three children.

He was born William Larry Higginbotham on September 26, 1938 to Pastor "Bud" and Agnes Higginbotham in Pasadena, California. He was the oldest of five children and spent his childhood years in several different towns as his father built his ministry. Larry attended all four years, and graduated high school from Las Vegas High in Las Vegas, Nevada. He went on to attend college at UNLV. He served in the Nevada National Guard for six years and received an honorable discharge. He was the Assistant City Engineer for the City of North Las Vegas when he met and fell in love with his secretary, Joyce Christopherson, a Darby, Montana native. They were married in 1963 and shared 47 years together.

Always preferring QUALITY over quantity, Larry left his promising career in Las Vegas and moved his family back to the Bitterroot Valley in 1972. This decision was ultimately one of the greatest gifts he gave his children. He obtained his land surveyor's license with the State of Montana and opened his own successful business, WLH Surveying, which he operated for 17 years. His oldest daughter, Michele, was his trusted "summer help" throughout high school and into her college years. Simultaneously, he was elected and served as the Ravalli County Surveyor for 11 years. In 1988, he became the Ravalli County Road Supervisor, retiring in 1998. After retirement, he kept busy performing corner searches for local realtors and property owners.

Throughout his years, and especially in retirement, Larry pursued those things that brought "QUALITY" to his life. His passion for hunting started in September of each year with bow season, and continued through rifle season in November. He especially looked forward to hunting camp with his good friends, a campfire, and his guitar. After retirement, his hunting adventures reached beyond Montana, into Alaska. Over the years, he enjoyed fishing in the Bitterroot River and in the many mountain lakes he hiked to with family and friends. He experimented with gold mining and panning-even spending a summer up Hughes Creek chasing the "fever". A favorite and more lucrative pastime, was hunting morel mushrooms which he dried and sold, or shared with friends. Larry could often be found up Ruby, Trail, or Placer Creek in his camp trailer, enjoying the outdoors, cutting firewood, singing around the campfire, and reading "The Cremation of Sam McGee" to his grandchildren. Two years ago, for his 70th birthday, he proudly completed a "3-generation" hike to the top of Trapper Peak-many could out run him, but nobody could out walk him (or out talk him)!

Larry's greatest legacy is his music. He played the guitar and sang throughout his life, raising his children and grandchildren with an appreciation for Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson. He self-recorded several CD's which will ensure that his music will remain alive for many generations to come. The last song he recorded he wrote in tribute to his wife, Joyce-"the girl who stole my heart and made my life so perfect". The song is simply titled "Jo".

Larry was preceded in death by his father, Pastor "Bud" Higginbotham. He is survived by his 93-year-old mother, Agnes Higginbotham of Las Vegas; his wife, Joyce of Sula; two daughters, Michele and husband Warren Gillespie of Hamilton, and Debbie and husband Scott Reesman of Hamilton; son, Eric Higginbotham and wife Monique of Helena; eight grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; three brothers, Dean, Greg and Gordon; a sister, Teresa "Sis"; and numerous nephews and nieces.

The family suggests memorials be made to Marcus Daly Hospice, 1200 Westwood Drive, Hamilton, MT 59840. We would like to thank all the nurses, especially Audrey, for their compassion and support. They are truly angels.

Larry loved life. And while the "quantity" of his life was shorter than we ever expected, he lived it with enviable "QUALITY".