Earl Eugene Higgins

Earl was born on May 10, 1934 to Clyde Higgins & Ellen (Berry) Higgins in Peoria. After graduating from Manual High School in 1952, he played minor league baseball with the St. Louis Browns and Cleveland Indians organizations, as well as serving in the United States Army.

Following his time in the service, Earl went to work at Keystone Steel & Wire company where he worked for 30 years before retiring in 1984. Post retirement, he worked for several years as a school bus driver, and then as a member of the custodial crew at Limestone Community High School where he worked for an additional 20 years.

In 1971, he met Margaret (Peggy) Conrad, and they wed on November 12, 1971. Earl and Peggy were married 52 years and enjoyed countless joyous times throughout their lives together.

Throughout his life, Earl had a passion for sports, and spent 40 years coaching youth baseball and basketball on numerous levels in the central Illinois area. Countless young lives were influenced by Earl throughout the years. Earl also served as the scoreboard operator at Illinois Central College for 16 years for men’s and women’s basketball games.

Earl was a loyal Bradley basketball fan, holding season tickets for over 30 years; as well as a lifetime St. Louis Cardinals fan. The only thing that he loved more than his sports teams was being a loving husband, father, and grandfather.

Earl was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife Peggy, his eldest son, Richard of Peoria, his adopted son Christopher of Lacon, his youngest son Michael and daughter-in-law Tiffany of Washington, and his grandchildren, Ryan Higgins, Austin Higgins, Allisyn Higgins, Drew Higgins, and Connor Higgins.

A Visitation will be held at Davison-Fulton Bartonville Chapel on Sunday, November 26 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 pm. Earl requested a celebration of life be held in his honor as opposed to traditional funeral services. We request all of Earl’s family and friends to join us in celebrating his life at the Bartonville American Legion Post #979 following the visitation.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Limestone Community High School, care of the Earl Higgins Memorial Scholarship Fund. Words of comfort can be shared with the family at www.Davison-Fulton-Bartonvillechapel.com.