Every now and then a “gem” comes into our lives that makes a difference and will “sparkle” in our stories and thoughts for a very long time. One such person, Effie Higgins, 100, passed away peacefully on February 7, 2019 at her home in White Rock. Effie was born to David and Olivia Strain on June 21, 1918 in Jasper Place a neighborhood of Edmonton, Alberta. Jasper Place is where she grew up with her older sisters, Elva and Ada, and younger brother Hart. They had a small farm with chickens and cows, and she delivered milk to the neighbors as a child. She was a good student and finished school and went on to McDougall Commercial for business courses.
At the age of 21 she had saved up money to take a $39 30-day Greyhound Bus trip to Washington and California to visit relatives. While visiting an aunt in Seattle she met the love of her life, Malvern “Mal” Higgins. They courted for 2 years and married on June 3, 1941. They bought a home in Lake City, a neighborhood of Seattle, and Mal went off to war in the South Pacific. During that time daughter, Linda, was born. She and Linda attended Lake City Presbyterian Church with many of her war bride neighbors. Shortly after Mal’s return home, son, Dan, was born. Mal provided for his family as an ironworker. They both worked hard to make this little house in Lake City a home to be proud of. He was the adventurous type and she followed along hunting deer and elk and fishing for salmon.
They saved their money and in 1952 they purchased a one-bedroom cabin and small boat on South Whidbey Island. Their adventurous life included crabbing, clamming, oystering, 2-week long boating trips to Canada each summer and more fishing. Effie was always inviting friends and neighbors over to the “island”. Effie was a great hostess.
Once Linda and Dan grew up and left home (1970), Effie and Mal purchased 93 acres on Nulki Lake in Vanderhoof, BC; the exact center of British Columbia. They joined many clubs so as to meet the people and fit into their new surroundings. She attended the United Church of Vanderhoof. In this neck of the woods you can hunt for moose, and geese. Fishing for rainbow trout in their canoe was the best. Together they built a lovely log cabin, garage and flower and vegetable gardens. Effie loved her flowers. In the long cold winters she would sew quilts for the friends and family beginning in the early 1970’s. She and Mal would play cards together and with friends.
Shortly after celebrating 50 years of marriage in 1991, Mal passed away. Effie continued to live in Vanderhoof. She tended her flowers, entertained the neighbors, and kept in touch with friends near and far by writing letters. She spent the winters in Washington near her daughter, Linda’s family. In about 2005 she spent the winters back on Whidbey Island. To fill the time she made quilts for the needy babies and attending the Clinton and Freeland Lutheran Churches.
At the age of 97, (2015) she sold her “bogstead” on the lake in Vanderhoof and moved to the senior community Evergreen Manor in White Rock, B. C., and she continued meeting more friends and writing more letters. She was a “care giver” for so many people going back to her early days in Edmonton to the present. She always signed up for the trips in the mini bus and she enjoyed visits from family and friends. On Sundays she either watched Hour of Power or went to the Evergreen Baptist Chapel. She impressed everyone with being able to say the alphabet “backwards” (her father had taught her).
Family was very important to Effie. She was a very devoted and loving mother to daughter, Linda (Mike) Martin of Everett, WA, son, Dan Higgins (Carol Brown) of Mill Valley, CA and Meyers Chuck, AK, and like-a-daughter, Jane (Fred) Jackman. She loved her granddaughters Regina Bolden, Melissa Ruffner, Janette (Michael) Bell, Wendy (Greg) Faust and “favorite grandson Kevin” (Sandra) Martin. She had eleven great-grandchildren and twelve great-great grandchildren. She adored her many nieces and nephews. In addition she sponsored three World Vision Foster Children; Rose Chao, Kenya, Viktorinus Panji, Indonesia, and Sanojan Mohan Raj, Sri Lanka. Her financial help made sure they could go to school and she wrote them many letters. If anyone wants to continue to sponsor one of these children, contact Linda for details.
Effie had so many dear friends from Jasper Place, Lake City, Whidbey Island, Vanderhoof, White Rock and all over the world. She had friends of her family and friends of friends. If a dear friend passed away, she would write to the family and keep writing to the family. She didn’t lose friends, she gained friends. A marvelous example!
Effie was predeceased by her parents, David and Olivia Strain, her husband, Mal, sisters, Elva Walker (George) of North Vancouver, BC, Ada (Lloyd) Stewart of Edmonton, AB, brother, Hart (Kay) Strain of Edmonton, AB, great-grandsons, Deven Rood of Kingston, WA and Daniel Martin of Dallas, TX.
Every day of her life she was so “with it”. She loved learning about people, where they were from, what they love to do and their dreams. She was making new friends and keeping the old ones. She had marvelous stories to tell and loved listening to your stories. She cared about people who were in need. She remembered your birthday with a card and a phone call. She loved flowers, birds, wild animals, reading, The Young and The Restless, outdoors, fresh air and Maple Walnut ice cream. She loved to sew quilts and play cards. She loved her Lord Jesus Christ; she read her Bible every morning and prayed for many daily. She was always giving something to someone; a card, a gift, a smile, or a kind word. She donated to organizations that restored eyesight, fixed cleft lips and kidneys, fed the hungry children, and provided a source of income to remote villagers around the world.
The last three years of Effie’s life at the Evergreen Manor were made so comfortable by the staff at Evergreen Manor, Bayshore Health Care, Fraser Health and the Medicine Shoppe. Effie’s family is so thankful for their care and kindness.
In Lieu of flowers, Donations can be made in Effie’s honor to…
Donations can be directed to Effie’s World Vision Foster Children by writing a check to
“World Vision Canada”
And mailing it to Linda Martin
13611-62nd Drive SE
Everett, WA 98208
Who will send it on to Effie’s Children’s account
or
Operation Eyesight Canada
200-4 Parkdale Crescent NW
Calgary, AB T2N 3T8
CANADA
Effie’s Celebration of Life was on June 17 and 22, 2018 for her 100th birthday parties. Two memorial services will be held for her many friends and family.
Memorial Service in White Rock:
The Chapel at Evergreen Manor
1531 Everall Street
White Rock, BC
Saturday, April 6th 2:00 pm
Or
Memorial Service in Everett
The Journey Church
2814 Colby Ave.
Everett, WA 98208
Monday, April 8th 2:00 pm
(Parking is at EverPark Garage, 2825 Hoyt, behind the church.)
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