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Charlotte Saraphina Hutchens
Charlotte Saraphina Hutchens, 77, died March 20, 2001, at her home after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease.
She was born Oct. 19, 1923, in Brooklyn, N.Y., to Nicholas and Bertha Sengele Heinz. She attended the New York School of Business and was a bookkeeper at Macy's in New York.
She met her future husband, Clifford, while he was stationed with the U.S. Navy in New York. They were married on Jan. 24, 1945.
In 1951, they returned to North Platte, her husband's hometown, where they lived since. The couple marked their 56th wedding anniversary two months before she died.
After coming to North Platte, she was a bookkeeper at St. Mary's Hospital and later was office manager for Dr. Bernard Drost.
Mrs. Hutchens was active in the community. She was an honorary lifetime member of the Girl Scouts after spending 31 years as a Girl Scout leader, troop organizer, and day-camp director for the Girl Scouts' Lakeview Camp in North Platte. She also served on the Guiding Star Girl Scout Council board.
As a member of the Commission on Christian Concerns, she helped found Achievement Place at Ninth and Jackson, the 4-H club that met there for many years and the Achievement Place preschool.
An award-winning artist whose work was sold regionally and nationally, she was a past president of Platter Painters Art Club and the North Platte Art Guild. She also taught noncredit art classes at Mid-Plains Community College.
She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church for 40 years.
She and her husband traveled extensively both in the United States and abroad. She often presented travelogues to groups and organizations. An excellent cook, she and her husband entertained frequently.
An individual who was highly talented in a variety of areas, she wrote poetry, sang in the Presbyterian Church choir, played the piano, was a skillful bridge and Scrabble player, and sewed and tailored clothing. Always a lady, she charmed those she met with both her elegant grace combined with the touch of Brooklyn accent that never went away after all her years in Nebraska.
She had Paget's disease, an hereditary disorder, and had participated in the Creighton University research and study program on the disease.
Surviving her is her husband; three children, Jerry (Kathryn) of Summertown, Tenn., Sandra (Jim) Lane of New Haven, Ohio, and Irene (Danny-Joe) Ridgway of North Platte; six grandchildren, Melinda Ridgway-Tichelaar, Nancy Jo Ridgway, Jenna Rose Vega-Hutchens, Michael Maximillan Russell, Turner Ray Hutchens and Faith Saraphina Hutchens; and three great-grandchildren, Aidesha-Kiya Vega-Hutchens, Nicholas Russell and Ethan Ridgway-Tichelaar; a brother, Walter (Wilma) Heinz of Sebastian, Fla.; and a special family member, Sharron Hollen of North Platte.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the North Platte Alzheimer's Support Group, Great Plains Regional Medical Center Hospice program or to the Presbyterian Music Organ Fund.
Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in the North Platte Cemetery with the Rev. Amy Jo Hawley of the Presbyterian Church officiating.
The memorial book may be signed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Friday.
Carpenter Memorial Chapel is in charge.
Grace Pearl Higgason
Grace Pearl Higgason, 100, formerly of Oakley, Kan., died March 23, 2001, at the Centennial Park Retirement Village in North Platte.
She was born May 9, 1900, at Guide Rock to John and Melcina Blackwell. The family moved to Clayton, Kan., when she was 6. She attended schools in Clayton, graduating in 1919.
She married Harry C. Higgason, the brother of her good friend Jenny, on May 31, 1919, in Clayton.
They lived in Clayton until 1930, when Harry was transferred to several Kansas towns before finally settling in Oakley in 1942.
Mrs. Higgason helped support her growing family by sewing for people. She was an amazing and creative seamstress who never needed a pattern. She particularly enjoyed making Barbie doll clothes. Her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and many Oakley children grew up enjoying the clothes she made for their dolls. She continued to sew doll clothes well into her 90s.
After their move to Oakley, her husband built her a small greenhouse on the side of their house. This was the beginning of what became "Higgason Greenhouse," a popular and successful business. Mrs. Higgason initially ran it herself until her husband retired and they worked it together. Mrs. Higgason took courses in flower arrangement and design before opening the greenhouse in 1950. They sold the greenhouse in 1968 after severe damage from a hailstorm and moved to a new home in Oakley.
She was never afraid to try anything when it came to crafts and decorative endeavors. She enjoyed cooking for family and friends and was a remarkable cook.
Mrs. Higgason lived in her home until 1998, when she moved to North Platte to be near her daughters Lucille and Velva. She lived with Lucille for eight months before moving to Centennial Park Retirement Village in December 1998.
Her family gathered in May 2000 to honor her on her 100th birthday. Although her body was tired, her mind never faltered and all were blessed with her coninuing sharp wit, humor and caring nature.
She was instrumental in helping start the Oakley Museum. She was a lifetime member of the Eastern Star and a past Worthy Matron, a member of the Afternoon Club and the United Methodist Church in Oakley.
Survivors include two daughters, Lucille Hord of North Platte and Velva (Gean) Melroy of Lindsborg, Kan.; one son, Don Lee (Wanda) Higgason of Buford, Ga.; two sisters, Mabel Emil of Lewis, Colo., and Doris Rule of Dodge City, Kan.; a daughter-in-law, Ethel Higgason of Omaha; 15 grandchildren, Lee Gayle Boettcher, Bill Hord, Chrys Olson, Rita Wilkinson, Bette Thalkan, Harlan Hord, George "Chip" Hord, Gordon Melroy, Jim Melroy, Gary Melroy, Lori Melroy, Jerry Higgason, Jeff Higgason, Cyndy Corrigan and Jason Higgason; 49 great-grandchildren; 17 great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband in 1990; a daughter, Vonna Dean Higgason; a son, Phillip Gerald Higgason; her parents; four sisters, Wilma Wiseman, Edith Lucht, Stella Crab and Clara Wipf; two grandsons; and a son-in-law, Clark Hord.
Memorials are suggested to First United Methodist Church in Oakley.
Visitation will be from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday at Odean Colonial Chapel and from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home in Oakley.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at the First United Methodist Church in Oakley. Eastern Star Rites will be conducted. Burial will be in the Clayton Cemetery.
Odean Colonial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Mary Francis Lyons
Mary Francis Lyons, 89, of Calhoun, Mo., died March 24, 2001, at the Golden Valley Memorial Hospitalin Clinton, Mo.
Mrs. Lyons was a homemaker all her life.
She is survived by her husband William "Bill" of Calhoun; three daughters, Ethel Commins of Warsaw, Mo., Ora Gregory of Windsor, Mo., and Mary Dempsey of Calhoun; five sons, John Iven Gregory of Overton, Charles Gregory of Johnson Lake, Edward Gregory of Overton, Robert Gregory of Windsor, Mo., and Donald Gregory of Overton; three sisters, Beulah Hess of Selley Lake, Mont., Luevenia Booth of Independence, Mo., and Bertha Caylor of Sugar Creek, Mo.; five brothers, Leo and James Miller of Buckner, Mo., Luther Miller of Gothenburg, Lewis Miller of Callaway and Luther Miller of Holden, Mo.; 36 grandchildren, 78 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.
Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society.
Visitation will be today from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Sickman & Dunning Chapel.
Services will be Monday at 2 p.m. at the Sickman & Dunning Chapel with the Rev. Joe Hall officiating.
Interment will be in Clinton Memory Gardens.
Sickman & Dunning Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Leon E. McMorris
Leon Ernest McMorris, 90, of North Platte died Friday, March 23, 2001, at Linden Court.
He was born Aug. 14, 1910, to William and Edna Field McMorris at Woodward, Iowa. He was raised at Woodward where he attended school, graduating in 1928. He moved to Lincoln, where he met his wife Frances Tyson. They were married Sept. 2, 1930, at Council Bluffs, Iowa. She preceded him in death July 26, 1982.
They came to North Platte in 1935 and he was employed by the Jewel Tea Co. as a door-to-door salesman. He later hired out to Union Pacific Railroad as a carman, retiring as a car inspector in 1973. He was a member of the Walla Walla Lodge 56 I.O.O.F., the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 2839 and the B.P.O. Elks Lodge 985.
Survivors include three daughters, Kay Pearsall of Vidor, Texas, Nancy (Ed) Pauley of Park Forrest, Ill., and Donna Magner of Kearney; one son, Alan (Kay) McMorris of Lincoln; one sister, LaRue Danilson of Woodward, Iowa; one brother, Bernard McMorris of Riverside, Calif.; 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter, Helen Vencill, and three brothers.
Services will be Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. at Adams & Swanson Chapel with the Rev. David Lux officiating. The casket will not be opened. Burial will be at the North Platte Cemetery. Visitation will be from 8:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. on Tuesday and prior to service time Wednesday at the funeral home.
Lester Jack Morris
Lester Jack Morris, 73, of North Platte died March 19, 2001, at Premier Estates in North Platte.
He was born Jan. 14, 1928, at Hastings to John Acey and Mamie Anna Harbert Morris. He grew up in Hastings and graduated from Hastings High School in 1947. He came to North Platte in 1981.
Mr. Morris was a member of Jehovah's Witnesses Kingdom Hall. He was a photography enthusiast.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
A memorial service will be at 2 p.m March 31, 2001, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses with Don Saathoff conducting the service.
Cremation has taken place and there will be no visitation.
Odean Colonial Chapel is in charge.
Shirley M. Hill
BROKEN BOW - Shirley M. Hill, 69, of Broken Bow died March 26, 2001, at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney.
She was born Aug. 22, 1931, to Albert and Ethel Lusk Plock at Comstock, where she grew up and graduated from high school in 1950.
On July 3,1953, she married Donald C. Hill at Broken Bow, where they made their home most of their married life.
Mrs. Hill was a member of the First Christian Church in Broken Bow. She enjoyed cooking and baking and raising African violets.
Survivors include her husband; a son, Al (Ruth) of Broken Bow; a grandson, Shaun, of Broken Bow; four sisters. Evelyn Visek of Ord, Dorothy Granger of Comstock, Thelma Harris of Broken Bow and Betty Hruby of Portland, Ore.; and a brother, Albert Plock of Portland.
She was preceded in death by her parents, four sisters and five brothers.
A memorial has been established to the family.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Govier Brothers Chapel in Broken Bow with the Rev. Jim Stark officiating. Burial will be in the Broken Bow Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Govier Brothers Mortuary of Broken Bow.
Margaret Lee
BROWNLEE - Margaret Lee, 80, of Brownlee died March 21, 2001, at the Cherry County Hospital in Valentine.
Surviving her are two daughters, Helen Anne Simianer of Mitchell and Peg Waller of San Mateo, Calif.; two sons, John of Brownlee and Dick of Springville, Calif.; two sisters, Elva Braum of Rapid City, S.D., and Millie Morris of Alaska; and a brother, Bob Richmond of Waverly.
Memorials may be made to the Brownlee Grade School piano fund.
Services were March 26, 2001, at the Presbyterian Church in Valentine, with burial in the Mount Hope Cemetery in Wood Lake.
Sandoz Chapel of the Pines in Valentine was in charge.
