Bette Elaine Ort Higgins

Bette Elaine Ort Higgins, age 90, of Wilmington, North Carolina passed away on Tuesday, May 1, 2018, in Wilmington, NC. She was born June 6, 1927 to Aubrey William and Hattabelle (Waugaman) Ort in Brackenridge, PA.

Bette was united in marriage to Jack Hubert Higgins of Atlanta, GA, on July 11, 1950. They made their first home in Miami, FL. She and Jack were soon raising their growing family which included Caroline, Jacalyn, and Marilyn.

In 1955, the family moved to Tulsa, OK, where Bette, an RN, began work for St Francis Hospital, and held many positions, which included developing the Epidemiology Program with CDC, the first in Oklahoma. Bette had many interests including Girl Scouts, sewing, crocheting, quilting, tennis, and aerobics. She was also involved in her church, Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian.

Bette was preceded in death by her parents, husband Jack, sister Marjorie, and daughter Jacalyn. She is survived by sister Geraldine Dorminy of Crystal River, FL, brother Paul Ort of Tallahassee, FL, sister Georgea Von Lutcken of Manasquan, NJ, daughter Caroline Stiles and husband, David of Carrollton, TX, daughter Marilyn Bishop and husband Robert of Wilmington, NC, son-in-law Gary Leath of Cebu City, Philippines, six grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

Condolences or personal reflections can be left at www.andrewsmortuary.com.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, May 11, 2018, at 11am, St Andrews Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1416 Market St, Wilmington, NC, Rev. Robb Lapp officiating.

Due to Memorial weekend activities, the joint interment service for Bette and Jack (d. 28 Nov 2017) will be held on Friday, May 25, 2018, at 2:30 pm, at Memorial Park Cemetery, Tulsa, followed by a joint memorial service on Saturday, May 26, 2018, at 11 am, at Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian, Tulsa, OK, Dr. Wayne Hardy officiating. Memorials may be given to Lower Cape Fear Hospice, 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC, 28401, (memo Bette Higgins), or www.lcfh.org

Arrangements are being handled by Andrews Mortuary in Wilmington, and by Memorial Park in Tulsa.