Laura Carter Higley

Laura Higley — former mayor of West University Place and a Justice on the First District Court of Appeals in Texas for 16 years — died Tuesday, the 29th of October 2024, at the age of 77 after a five-year struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. Despite a lifetime of achievements, she is being remembered most for striking a successful and rewarding balance between family life, and career and service to her community accomplishments in an era when women were expected to choose one path or the other.

Laura Clarkson Carter Higley was born the 27th of November 1946, in Port Arthur, Texas, a fifth-generation Texan. She was the only child of Dr. L.C. Carter and Laura Lee Hampshire (Phillips) Carter. Laura Lee had the distinction of being Texas’ first female county judge, appointed in Brazoria County in 1941.

Laura’s parents raised her to be a “perfect lady,” demanding absolute excellence while equipping her with the education and character-building experiences needed to think and act independently. She attended Port Arthur public schools, graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1965. She spent summers at Camp Waldemar in Hunt, Texas, which nurtured her lifelong passion for the outdoors, especially horseback riding.

Laura earned her bachelor’s degree in Latin American studies in 1969 from Vanderbilt University, where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority/Alpha Eta chapter. She went on to earn her master’s degree in the same field in 1971 from the University of Texas-Austin.

In the summer of 1969, Laura met Bob Higley. Both were on the summer staffs of State Senators during two special sessions. Romance blossomed, and they married the 10th of July 1971 — a partnership that would endure through building a family, careers, performing public service, and finally, her death.

Laura’s devotion to UT was also a lasting commitment. Described as being “completely indifferent to material things,” she did insist on one birthday present each year: Tickets to the annual UT-Texas A&M football game. A life member of Texas Exes, she wore a UT earring in one ear and an Aggie earring in the other, though, to honor her eldest son’s undergraduate alma mater.

Fluent in Spanish and known as a Latin American scholar, in 1973 Laura authored a social studies textbook, still in circulation, “The Texan: Man of Many Faces,” a guide to the indigenous cultures and settlers of her native state.

Laura threw herself into her field, volunteer work, building a home — literally and figuratively — on a prime lot she acquired in West University Place for her husband, herself and two sons.

A “very particular” investor, according to her husband, at one point she owned a piece of the Houston Rockets franchise as they ascended from obscurity into World Champions.

In the 1980s, her direction changed. “Laura had committed herself to a test,” Bob Higley recalled. “Could a woman have a career and devote herself to her family and perform rewarding board work?” The answer that she helped define was a “yes.”

Always involved in community service through her church, First Presbyterian of Houston, the Junior League of Houston, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, and a variety of causes focused on the inner city, Laura took a leap into municipal politics. She was elected to West University Place City Council, serving on council and as mayor pro tempore from 1985-87, and later was elected Mayor from 1989-91.

At the same time, she was “testing” herself with Law School at the University of Houston, earning her J.D. in 1989. In law, she found the kind of “intellectual labor” she craved, said her husband. A quick reader and “brilliant,” she digested and distilled thick volumes with gusto.

In typical fashion, Laura was in the top five of her class, served on Law Review, and was recognized by both the Order of the Barons and the Order of the Coif legal honor societies.

Her excellence in law school led to an offer from Houston’s prestigious Baker Botts LLP firm, where she began her legal career in 1990. True to her experiment, Laura and Baker Botts agreed at the outset that she would never be offered or accept a partnership in exchange for ¾-time employment to allow for outside pursuits — a deal both observed for 13 years.

In 2002, Laura — by now renowned as a legal scholar — was persuaded to run for an open seat on the Texas First District Court of Appeals. Unchallenged by candidates in any of the counties in the First District, she won and in 2003 became one of nine justices hearing cases appealed from district and county courts from 10 counties in the Houston area. She defeated a Democratic contender to win re-election in 2008 and was unopposed again in 2014. She authored hundreds of opinions in her 16 years on the court.

Whether at the peak of her volunteerism and her legal and judicial career, or in her slow decline with Alzheimer’s, Bob Higley described how Laura’s “aura” radiated to those around her. “Laura had a magnetism about her that was genuine and appealing — not something she put on and took off. She was still and soulful — at peace with her relationship with Jesus — yet was also stubborn and very dedicated to her conception of ‘the facts,’ whether in law or life.”

He recalled how during her time at Amazing Place, a daycare facility for seniors with memory issues, she became a favorite and — with a radiant smile — was featured in their promotional materials.

Among the many organizations that benefited from her commitment and expertise over the years were: Professional — Texas State Bar and Foundation, Houston Bar Foundation, Board of Directors of Houston Law Review; Community — West University City Council, West University Rotary Club, Bo’s Place advisory board, Development Chair and Chairperson of the Nehemiah Center; Houston Museum of Natural Science Board 1978-2002; Junior League of Houston Board; Children’s Assessment Center Board, Presbyterian Homes Board, Presbyterian School Board.

In addition to authoring a textbook, Laura also was involved as contributing editor to the Federal Bar Association Senior Citizen Handbook, and to the Texas Association of Business and Chambers of Commerce Annual Employment Law Handbook

Laura is survived by her husband of 53 years, Bob Higley, himself a former mayor of West University Place from 2019-21; two sons, Garrett C. Higley of Austin and Robert “Carter” Higley and his wife Jamil, of Jackson, Wyo., and grandchildren Selah, Grace, Bea Bea and River Higley.

A memorial service will be held at half-past nine o’clock in the morning on Tuesday, the 12th of November 2024, in the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church of Houston (5300 Main St.), where Laura was a member for more than a half-century and served as an elder, along with her husband.

Because of her stature as a justice, she will be buried at the Texas State Cemetery (909 Navasota St., Austin), with a graveside service to commence at one o’clock in the afternoon on Wednesday, the 13th of November 2024.

Her family is grateful to the caregivers at The Tradition—Buffalo Speedway for their loving attention over the past 2 ½ years.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests memorial contributions in Laura’s name be made to support the organizations mentioned here; or the charity of your choice.

Please view Laura’s online memorial tribute page at www.GeoHLewis.com, where memories and words of comfort and condolence may be share electronically with her family.