Marie N. Higgins

Marie N. (Crow) " RIE" Higgins 83 of Jefferson Township died Wednesday morning in the Phoebe Berks Retirement Community, Wernersville. She was the wife of Bernard J. Higgins. They shared a loving marriage of sixty years.

Marie was born in Oil City, Venango County, PA. She was the daughter of the late Walter E. and Eva (Farran) Crow.

She loved life and lived an adventurous one. Marie became a Registered Nurse attending First Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing school in Pittsburgh, where she met a fighter pilot, Bernard "Barney" Higgins, the love of her life. They married and raised a family of four children together. She enjoyed travel and seeing new places across the U.S. and in Europe, bringing home fascinating mementos and great recipes.

She loved animals, and was a known 'animal whisperer' to cats, dogs, mice, gerbils, and at one time 7 horses. She was intrigued by the beauty and majesty of nature and taught all of her children a deep appreciation of the natural world.

She had a gift for seeing the best in people, and would encourage them until they saw it too. She was an enthusiastic lifelong football fan (Go Nittany Lions!), avid skier and horsewoman. She was an adventurous cook, and a kind, faithful and loving friend. But most of all, Marie loved her family and created a special world full of love, encouragement and joy for those of us blessed enough to be part of it.

In addition to her husband she is survived by her loving children; Christine Parker, Spring Township, Jennifer A. Askey of Conshohocken, Kelly A. Mc Govern of Mt. Gretna, NJ, and Kevin J. Higgins of York.

Mrs. Higgins was blessed with three grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

A brother Robert Crowe resides in Chambersburg, PA

A sister, Ann Louise Neikam, predeceased her in death.

Mrs. Higgins graduated from Oil City High School in the class of 1952 and the First Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing, Pittsburgh receiving her RN degree in 1957.