MISSOURI: Montgomery Archives

Janet Maxine Davis Higgenbotham, 70, of Wellsville, passed away at 9:08 A.M., Sunday, April 22, 2012 at her home, surrounded by her family, after a brave and courageous fight with cancer.

Visitation will be held from 4:00-8:00 P.M., Wednesday, April 25th at the Myers Funeral Home in Wellsville.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 A.M., Thursday, April 26th at Bethel Methodist Church in rural Montgomery City.  Rev. John Ray will officiate.

Burial will be in Bethel Cemetery in rural Montgomery City.  Serving as pallbearers will be Cody Higgenbotham, Clietus Higgenbotham, Glenn T. Higgenbotham Jr., Glenn T. Higgenbotham III, Randy Huff and Albert Zolin.  Honorary pallbearers will be Alan Davis, Leland Davis, Les Davis, Gene Higgenbotham, Walt Higgenbotham and Dean Sublette.

Mrs. Higgenbotham, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend to all, was born June 8, 1941, in Martinsburg, Missouri, a daughter of Orville Lloyd and Aleta May Boicourt Davis.

On June 16, 1956, at the Martinsburg Community Church, she married Glenn T. Higgenbotham Sr., sharing 55 wonderful years together.  They were the parents of 6 children.  Glenn and Janet have lived at their present address since 1974 and in the Wellsville area all of her life.

She was a member of Bethel Methodist Church in rural Montgomery City.

Janet was a seamstress.  She had worked at the Wellsville Garment Factory from 1972 until it closed, then going to work for Continental Bag.  Most recently, she had been employed at Missouri Military Academy in Mexico for over 7 years.  Janet had a gift for sewing and had made numerous quilts and teddy bears for all of her children and grandchildren.

She enjoyed fishing, reading, bingo, playing games, especially Yahtzee, going to the boat, putting together jigsaw puzzles, playing cards, primarily pitch and having card parties with her brothers and sisters.

Janet was a strong and inspirational matriarch to all in her family.  Family meant everything to her and she was very proud of each and every one of them.  More than anything, she enjoyed the time she got to spend with her kids, grandkids and great-grandkids.  If her family was around, a smile was always on her face.

Janet is survived by her husband, Glenn T. Higgenbotham Sr., of the home in Wellsville; daughters and sons-in-law, Sandra Sue “Sandy” and Albert Zolin, of Fulton and Linda Marie and Alben Clarkston, of New Braunfels, Texas; sons and daughters-in-law, Orville Leroy and Jeanie Higgenbotham, of Wellsville, Glenn T. and Sharla Higgenbotham Jr., of Mexico and Clietus Wayne and Karla Higgenbotham, of Wellsville; fifteen grandchildren and spouses, Jeremy Douglas Surls, of Fulton, Tabitha Sue and Adam Woods, of Columbia, David Leon and Amanda Dodd, of San Antonio, Texas, Jimmy Joe and Angie Dodd, of San Antonio, Texas, Donald Dean and Dawn Sublette, of Auxvasse, Melissa Ann and Matt Canterbury, of Wellsville, Christy Elaine Higgenbotham, of St. Charles, Kirsten Irene and Randy Huff, of Wellsville, Billy Joe Higgenbotham, of Farmington, Glenn T. Higgenbotham III and Elisha Bates, of Auxvasse, Jessica Nicole Higgenbotham, of Middletown, Rachel Lynn and Phil Carlson, of the State of Indiana, Tiffany Jo Tice and fiancé Scott Folta, of Laddonia, Cody Wayne and Patience Higgenbotham, of Holts Summit and Kimberley Renee Higgenbotham, of Wellsville; twenty-five great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters and spouses, Margaret Louise Bentley, of Wellsville, Lela Bernice Tarrants, of Martinsburg, Olan Leslie Davis, of Wellsville, Ovid Leland and Cindy Davis, of Wellsville, Wilma Fern and Richard Penn, of Middletown, Phyllis Kay and Don Lawrence, of Middletown, Lois Aleta and Kelly Spiers, of Wellsville and Alan Elmo and Pam Davis, of Wellsville; in addition to brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; son James Edward “Eddie” Higgenbotham; granddaughter Kelsey Mae Higgenbotham; sister Velma Ann Klante and infant brother, Orville Leroy Davis.

Memorials are suggested to Kelsey Higgenbotham Scholarship Fund and Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center – St. Louis c/o Myers Funeral Home, 203 East Bates Street, Wellsville, MO 63384.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to the family at www.myersfuneralhome.biz.