Randy Higginbotham

MASON CITY - Randy L. Higginbotham 43, of 113 Eighth St. S.W., died Thursday, Feb. 1, 2007, at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City.

Memorial services will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 5, at the gazebo in East Park in Mason City with Deb Gage and Jerry Hewitt officiating, and with honors conducted by members of 8th Texas Gun Salute and Bagpipers.

Randy was born Aug. 11, 1963, in Selma, Calif., the son of Harold and Judith Higginbotham. Randy graduated from Winters High School, Winters, Calif. He was a member of FFA and showed sheep and hogs at the Cow Palace in Oakland, Calif.

He enlisted into the United States Army, where he was stationed in Anniston, Ala.; there he met Kaye Wright, they were united into marriage on July 15, 1983. Together they were stationed in Germany until his honorable discharge in 1985.

They moved back to Waterloo; where he graduated from Hawkeye Tech in law enforcement and the Police Academy, in 1986. Randy was a police officer for different communities including Nora Springs, where he was chief of police. In 1998, Randy became a counselor for Francis Lauer until he couldn't work anymore because of health issues. In 2005, he started working towards his bachelor degree; he wanted to be a history teacher. Randy will be remembered for his great knowledge of the Civil War; he was a walking encyclopedia of history.

Randy loved the history of the Civil War, fishing, hunting, movies, and dining out; his greatest love was spending time with Kaye, his family and his two Chihuahua dogs, Mike and Rex.

He was a member of the 8th Texas Civil War Reenacting Group and the Sons of the Union Veterans.

Randy is survived by his wife, Kaye Higginbotham, of Mason City; father, Harold Higginbotham, of Quitman, Ark.; step-mother, Barbara Higginbotham, of California; siblings, David, Todd, Darrel, Angel and Laurie Higginbotham, all of California; aunt, Deena Cote, of Louisiana; mother-in-law, Audrey A. Wright, of Waterloo; brother-in-law, Kent Wright, of Waterloo; nephew, Isaac Wright and niece, Naomi Wright; along with other relatives and friends.

Randy was preceded in death by his mother, Judith (Underwood) Higginbotham; and father-in-law, William Wright.

Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel, (641) 423-2372. www.colonialchapels.com