Doris Higgins

Doris Irene (Pratt) Higgins

Long-time Durango resident Doris Higgins passed peacefully into the arms of the Lord at her home on 1/21/17, after a brief illness. She was born in Burr, NE on 4/21/1918. At a young age, she moved with her parents, Ellen and Ples Pratt, and siblings to an eastern CO farm near Arapahoe. Here they endured the Depression, the dust bowl years, drought and the death of an older brother due to a lighting strike. Upon the death of her father in 1933, she returned to NE with her mother and younger brother. They lived with her Swedish-speaking grandfather in Syracuse, NE, where she first joined the Methodist Church in 1933 and graduated from high school in 1936. She then moved to Colorado Springs and graduated from Cosmetology school in 1937. She married Robert Higgins on July 2, 1938. They had four children while living in Meeker, CO and in Minturn, CO. In early 1946, they moved to Colorado Springs and then to Albuquerque, NM in 1950. It was here the family became very active in Harwood Methodist Church and formed Higgins and Sons Construction Co. in 1955. The business prospered, and she and Robert decided to move to Durango in 1965. Following the death of Robert in July, 1966, Doris moved back to Albuquerque. In 1971, she felt the Lord led her to return to Durango, where she lived for the rest of her nearly 99 years.

As a Durango resident, Doris became very active in the community and the First United Methodist Church. She volunteered at the Community Hospital and was a founding member of the Methodist Thrift Shop. She was a professional seamstress and enjoyed her talent and passion for sewing. For years, she made about 1000 items per year to sell at the annual Methodist Women’s Holiday Bazaar. Her sewing contributions for the Bazaar and Operation Christmas Child were recognized in several publications.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Higgins, by her daughter, Alice Kitt, and her special friend, Horace Rogers. She is survived by sons Thomas and David, daughter Phyllis Modica, eight grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, one great great-grandchild, and one brother, Kenneth Pratt. She was loved, adored and admired by extended family and numerous friends. Doris always had a strong faith and felt she was guided through her 98 years by the Lord, a belief which seemed to bless her with good health.

A Memorial Service is planned for 3/4/17 at 11 a.m. at First United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Hospice of Mercy.