JOHN HIGGINS

Higgins, MD February 20, 1946 - October 26, 2014 NORMAN, OKLAHOMA John R. "Pete" Higgins, MD, 67, of Norman, was born February 20, 1946 in Ft. Lee, Virginia to M.W. "Mike" Higgins and Imogene McPhetridge Higgins. He died on October 26, 2014 after a long illness. His father was a coach and his early childhood was spent in several small towns in Oklahoma. He then moved to Oklahoma City, where he attended Northwest Classen High School. He graduated from Alva High School in 1964, and from Northwestern Oklahoma State University in 1967. In 1971 John graduated from the University of Oklahoma Medical School. He did his internship and internal medicine residency there, and a fellowship in endocrinology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School.John returned to O.U. Medical Center and was Asst. Professor of Endocrinology with a specialty in diabetes. He then became Chairman of Medicine at Texas Tech Medical Center, Amarillo, Chief of Staff for Education at the Oklahoma City Veterans Hospital, Chief of Staff at the Temple, Texas Veterans Hospital, Chief of Staff at the Dallas Veterans Hospital, Regional Chief of Staff of the Southern Region of the VA, and finally Regional Director of the Southern Region in Jackson, Mississippi.John had a brilliant mind and an incredibly witty sense of humor. He always knew how to relax a tense situation, but his goal in life was to make life better for our veterans. John was a visionary constantly working within the system to improve the lives of the people he worked with and for. He was a true leader, always looking for ways to advance the careers of his staff. His goal was accomplishment, and he never minded who got the credit.He is survived by his wife, Linda Horn Higgins after 48 years of marriage, his daughter, Pamela Jones and husband Kipp, and granddaughters, Risa and Laney, cousin, Sherre Carson, and cousins, Kathy and Bob Bailey of Weatherford, OK. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Primrose Funeral Service. For on-line condolences, visit primrosefuneralservice.com