October 22, 1926 - December 17, 2022
Phyllis Anne Davidson Higgins, 96, passed away peacefully December 17, 2022, at home in bed in Spokane, WA, of complications from pancreatic cancer. - This is the story of a great Woman, Wife, Mother, Grandmother and Friend. Phyllis, was born October 22, 1926, in Akron, Ohio, the daughter of our late Papa (Arthur Clyde) and Gaga (Louanna Phillips) Davidson. She was preceded in death by her loving husband Joseph (Joe) Aloisious Higgins, her son, Joseph (Jay) Arthur Higgins and her brothers Tracy Davidson and Arthur Clyde Davidson. - Phyllis loved talking with the people. She was a people person. Mother could (and would) start-up a conversation with anyone. She had a large circle of friends. Not just acquaintances. Friends who crawled through glass for each other. That testimony lies in the hundreds of Christmas cards she sent every year. This posse of friends would rotate entertaining at each other’s homes. They travelled the world together. They shared, joys, tears, and recipes. She always had a full social calendar. Even into her 90’s! - Mom gave us a powerful work ethic. She cut no corners when it came to giving her best at work. Her first job was at sixteen at the hosiery counter at Saks Fifth Avenue in Chicago. WWII was waging in Europe and all the men were at war. Most women were doing factory work. The store was full of teenage girls spending their paychecks on clothes. - Mom then sold classified advertising for the Chicago Tribune which is what she was doing the day she met our dad. It was a beautiful spring day. She was taking golf lessons and her golf pro rented a room at a bar in the Loop to show golf movies. Joe was at the bar sipping scotch when a beautiful woman (have we mentioned Mom was a red-headed, Scot) approached to order a drink. They started talking. Six months later they were married. Forty-six years married when Dad died. Happy, fun-filled years. - Mother’s last (and her favorite) job was working as a librarian for the St. Louis County Libraries for more than 35 years. She retired at 80. She started on a bookmobile in Fenton, MO (remember those). She loved reading books to kids and playing all the different characters. - She will be sorely missed and survived by her Children: Melissa (Higgins) Trezise, Philip Doyle (Melissa Thompson) Higgins, Grandchildren: Sean Higgins, Joey (Chance Calvert) Trezise and Sarah Higgins. All whom loved her dearly and will never forget her tenacity, wit, charm, grace and undying love and caring for them. She will be interned with her husband Joe at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in 2023. -
