Aurelia M. Higginbotham

Aurelia Fief Higginbotham, 83, died at her residence in Anchorage, Alaska after a lengthy battle with breast cancer. She was born September 17, 1920 in Trinity, Indiana to John Edward and Susann Marie Remaklus Laux. She grew up in Wapakoneta, Ohio. After graduation she worked for Firestone Tire Company in Akron. She met her husband in Sidney, Ohio and they were married at Holy Angels Catholic Church on February 1, 1947. Fief's husband accepted a job with the Department of Defense in a civil service capacity. They settled in Smyrna, Georgia in 1960, where she and her husband raised their three children. Aurelia was very active in her parish, St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church. She single handedly cared for her husband for 9 years while he was battling MS. She relocated to Augusta, Georgia when her husband was moved to a nursing home there. She belonged to St. Mary's on the Hill parish and was an active member. After her husband's death in 1996, Aurelia decided to moved to Anchorage in the spring of 2000. She lived with her children until her death. Fief was well known for her intelligence, sense of humor, quick wit, generosity, and a smile for all. She lived her life with absolute faith, dignity, honesty, compassion and forgiveness for everyone. She was preceded in death by her husband, Victor Lisle, her parents and four siblings, Sonny Laux, Rosie Laux, Cathy Crusey and Jim Laux. She is survived by her three children, Brad Higginbotham of Crawfordville, Florida, Alan Higginbotham of Anchorage, Alaska, Joyce Higginbotham of Anchorage, Alaska and their familes. She is also survived by four of her nine siblings. Her sisters, Mary Mehok and Lucy Laux of Akron, Ohio, Cordy Gehrlich of Marietta, Georgia, and Murph Lauterbur of Sidney, Ohio. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, August 9, 2004 at 10:30 AM at Holy Angels Catholic Church with Rev. Gerald Bensman. Burial will be at Graceland Cemetery, Sidney, Ohio. Friends may call at Salm-McGill and Tangeman Funeral Home on Sunday, August 8, 2004 from 1-3 PM. Memorial contributions may be made to the Holy Angels Catholic Church Endowment Fund, 324 S. Ohio Ave., Sidney, Ohio 45365 or the American Cancer Society. Envelopes will also be available at the funeral home.