Vicki Moore Higgins

Vicki Lynn Moore Higgins, 59, of Petit Jean Mountain, educator, counselor, and military child advocate, died on October 20, 2013, concluding a ten-year battle with breast cancer. She was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas, on May 31, 1954, the daughter of Clyde Smith Moore and Merle Avis Acord Moore. She attended primary schools in Knob Noster, Waynesville, and Pacific, Missouri, and Russellville, Arkansas, graduating from Russellville High School in 1972. She attended Arkansas Tech and graduated cum laude from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs in 1976 with the degree of bachelor of elementary education. She earned certification as military linguist in the Spanish language at the Defense Language Institute in 1993 and, in 2006, George Mason University conferred upon her a master of education degree in counseling. Vicki married her high school sweetheart, Donald Patrick Higgins, Jr., in Cascade, Colorado, June 4, 1976, and for the next 30 years moved her career, household, and family more than 20 times in support of her husband's service in the United States Air Force. She taught elementary school, middle school, and adult education at eleven schools in six states and two foreign countries. Her last position was as counselor for the Nemo Vista School District in Conway County, AR. In 1971 Vicki won the title Arkansas Valley Junior Miss. As a senior at Russellville High School she captained the Crimsonette Steppers drill team, and the next year was an original member of Arkansas Tech's Golden Girls drill team. She served as a dance/drill team instructor, judge, and director in Idaho, New Mexico, and the United Kingdom. For several years she traveled as a motivational speaker for Christian Women's Club and Women Aglow in Idaho, and served as youth minister, youth retreat director, and youth retreat presenter in Idaho and Virginia. She was a founder executive board member of the Military Child Education Coalition, teaching school counselors the unique educational requirements of military dependent children. She was selected as an Outstanding Young Woman of America in 1985 and was elected to membership in the Chi Sigma Iota Counseling Academic and Professional Honor Society. She was a parish member of St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Oppelo, AR. In addition to her husband, Vicki is survived by her mother, Merle Acord Moore Logan of Conway, AR; a daughter, Amber Higgins Cotton (Eric) of Edmond, OK; four grandchildren, Kaitlyn, Elise, Owen, and Claire Cotton of Edmond, OK; a brother, Clyde Ramon Moore (Kay) of Ocean Pines, MD; a sister, D. Ann Moore Jones Thompson (Morton) of Clinton, IL; and many beloved aunts, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Visitation, with rosary to follow, will be held at 6:00 PM, October 22, at Harris Funeral Home, Morrilton, AR. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM, October 23, at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, Oppelo, AR, with burial to follow in the Petit Jean Mountain Community Cemetery. Arrangements are by Harris Funeral Home of Morrilton. The family thanks the medical oncology department of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, the Central Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute, Arkansas Hospice, the Petit Jean Volunteer Fire Department, and Petit Jean State Park's emergency response team for the world-class treatment they gave Vicki throughout this long ordeal.

Vicki Moore Higgins

May 31, 1954 - October 20, 2013