Richard Ray Higgins

May 8th, 1952 – March 19th, 2025

Richard (Rich, Ricky) was the fourth of five children born to his parents Orland Robert Higgins and Idahlia Lurlyne (Oliver) Higgins on May 8th of 1952 in Phoenix, AZ. He passed away on March 19th of 2025 at his home in Central Point, OR from Alzheimer’s disease complications. His family was able to be there at the end to send him off with love and comfort, to be with the Lord.

He is preceded in death by his Father, Mother, oldest brother Robert Alan Higgins (his Wife Cindy Parks & her Husband Tom Parks), sister Janet Lee Collins (her Husband’s Fred Gose & Gail Collins), younger brother Russell (Rusty) Clifford Higgins (his Wife Nancy Higgins), a niece and nephews, many Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and other family members.

He is survived by his wife Michele Kay (Noble) Higgins, his children Tyler Higgins and Kaitlin (Katie) Higgins (her Fiancé Austin Brower), his brother Steven William (Bill) Higgins (his Wife Edythe Higgins), several nieces & nephews as well as cousins.

From Phoenix, his family moved to Tempe where he graduated from McClintock High School in 1969. He attended Northern Arizona University, later transferring and graduating from Arizona State University with a Bachelors in Secondary Education. After scouring the state in hopes of becoming a History Teacher, he went back to ASU where he received his Master’s in Horticulture. It was during this time at ASU that he met the love of his life Michele. After just two weeks of dating, he asked her to marry him. They planned their wedding for after Michele’s graduation and were wed on March 22nd of 1980 at the First Presbyterian Church of Tempe.

Richard worked with plants in some capacity for most of his adult life. Whether it was discovering a new plant variety that was later patented, managing wholesale nurseries (such as Hollyhock in Ashland, OR), teaching horticulture in a prison through Central Arizona College or selling fresh cut flowers and petunia baskets grown and sold on their property; all while growing a substantial garden alongside Michele. He always enjoyed watching the products of his hard work grow, this is probably why he was such an amazing teacher.

In 1996 Richard, Michele and their children moved from Arizona to Southern Oregon. After years of working in greenhouses in the 120° summer heat, he decided to “go back to school” and obtained a second bachelor’s degree from Southern Oregon University in Computer Science.

After graduating with his CS degree, he became a part time instructor at Rogue Community College teaching Computer Science for about 20 years. He was an incredible advocate for his students, especially his evening students, as well as the Table Rock campus. Since part-time instructors didn’t have office hours, he made himself available before and after class and was willing to show up on weekends to help his students with their homework, even if it wasn’t for his class. And if other students needed assistance while he was in the lab, he would do his best to help them out. He would always attend faculty meetings and teach his classes in RCC gear. He was truly proud to represent RCC, and all that it had accomplished.

He and Michele were members of First Presbyterian Church of Jacksonville, when the family first moved to Oregon, and then became members at First Presbyterian Church of Central Point when he and the family moved to Central Point, where he later became the Church Treasurer. He retired after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2022.

He was always willing to help his friends, family and students with whatever they needed. He gave so much to the community, and we believe that we are all better because of him.

A Celebration of Life will be held on May 31st, 2025, at 2pm at the First Presbyterian Church of Central Point located at 456 W Pine St., Central Point, OR 97502. Light refreshments will be provided after the service. In lieu of flowers for the service, we ask that you plant flowers, a tree or a garden in remembrance of him. He is loved and missed by many.