Leon I. Higginbotham

Leon Bell Higginbotham, devoted wife, beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great-great grandmother went to be with the Lord on January 1, 2012. Born on December 22, 1918 in Coleman, Oklahoma to Vera May and Frank Wingfield she was the first of six children. Despite being a child of the Great Depression, she overcame the adversity of the times to become a self-made woman. As a young girl, she and her family made their way to Texas in a covered wagon, but the trip was delayed because her family did not have the toll needed to cross the Red River. After chopping wood and earning 25 cents to pay the toll, her father was able to cross into Texas where they eventually settled in Sherman. Over the years, she picked cotton, worked at Airmaid Hosiery, Thompson Canning Company, and owner of Leon’s Café on Olive Street in downtown Dallas. But, her real pride was the city of Dallas where she was a very successful business woman in rental properties. Leon volunteered for several years as a driver for the American Red Cross and was a member of Ferguson Road Baptist Church. In her spare time, she loved to square dance and work in her garden.

Leon is survived by daughters Carol Joyce Bell Loftis, Denton, and Jerry Lou Bell (Bill) Bailey, Stephenville; son Lonnie Leon Higginbotham, Arlington; step-daughters Penny Lou (Jerry) Smith, Kilgore; and Jackie Sue (John) Speigel, Vienna, VA, 11 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband Lonnie Higginbotham, her parents, four brothers, two sisters, step daughter and granddaughter.

Visitation at Sparkman/Crane Funeral Home, 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Tuesday, January 3, 2012.

The Funeral Service, 11:00 am, Wednesday January 4, 2012 in the Chapel of Sparkman/Crane Funeral Home. Rev. Wayne Wible, officiating. Interment Restland Memorial Park, Dallas, Texas

Arrangements entrusted to Sparkman/Crane Funeral Home

10501 Garland Road, Dallas, Texas 75218

214-327-8291.