Mary Sue and Richard Greer Higginbotham

Memorial services for Mary Sue Thedford Higginbotham and Richard Greer Higginbotham will be held on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016, at 2 p.m. at Stewart Family Funeral Home with Michael Ace and Morris Hallman officiating. Visitation with the family will be immediately following the service.

Sue passed away on Sunday, Aug. 14, 2016, in her home at Prestige Estates Assisted Living Facility in Tyler, surrounded by her family and close friends. Her husband of 62 years, Dick, sat beside her awaiting his turn to meet her in heaven. Dick joined his bride less than 3 days later, on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016. It had always been their prayer that they leave this life together so that neither one had to live on this earth without the other. As always, God's timing is perfect.

Sue was born Aug. 25, 1937, in Bryson, Texas to William L. and Virginia Thedford. Dick was born on Sept. 7, 1933 in Gorman, Texas to Frederick E. and Bertha Higginbotham. Their love story began when Sue was just 15 and they were married to each other at the ripe old ages of 16 and 20. Immediately after their wedding they moved to Camp LeJeune, North Carolina, where Dick was serving in the United States Marine Corps. Their early married life included living in San Antonio and Beaumont, while Dick was working and attending college. He graduated from Lamar University and began a lifelong career in the health care industry. They had four children and lived in Olney, Houston, and Dallas before moving their family to Tyler in 1971.

Dick began a long and distinguished career with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas. He left BCBS for 10 years to become the first administrator of the East Texas Cancer Center in Tyler. He then returned to Blue Cross for his remaining work life and retired in 1998. Dick served on a number of boards and committees, including the Regional East Texas Food Bank and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Sue was a homemaker for most of their married life, but worked for many years at Andy Woods Elementary School, where most people agree that she ran the school! They were both actively involved in community projects...mostly dragged into volunteering by their children! Dick and Sue were members of West Erwin Church of Christ where they spent many wonderful years and made lifelong friends. They will be sorely missed by all who knew them.

They were both preceded in death by their parents and by Dick's brother, Fred Higginbotham and sister, Virginia Martin.

Their greatest joy in life was their children and grandchildren. Dick and Sue are survived by their children, Rick Higginbotham and wife Lana of White Oak, Steve Higginbotham and wife Stacy of Tyler, Lisa Ace and husband Michael of Tyler and Julie Cunningham and husband Jeff of Tyler; grandchildren, Cheroka Roberts and husband Brent, Scott Higginbotham, Amy Lund and husband Ari, Jacob Higginbotham, Madison Higginbotham, Ashlyn Geer and husband Zach, Meredith Ace and fiance Richard, Colton Cunningham and wife Shelbie, and Keaton Cunningham; great-grandchildren, Zev, Tahl and Isaac Lund, Eden Grace Cunningham, Thaylin Roberts and Macey Geer. Sue is also survived by her brother, Bill Thedford and wife Mona of Brownwood; and numerous nieces and nephews. They are also survived by their beloved dog, Aggie, who misses them immensely.

The family would like to give special thanks to all of the staff and caregivers at Prestige Estates, the wonderful nurses and staff at the Watson Wise Dialysis Center, Dr. Myrtha Basile, Dr. Thomas Buzbee, Chris Williams, PA-C and the caregivers from Choice Home Health Care in Tyler. What an honor and blessing it was for Dick and Sue's final caregiver to be their oldest grandson, Scott Higginbotham, RN. This family will never forget, and will be forever grateful, for the gentle comfort and care given by Scott in their final hours.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to The Hospice of East Texas Foundation, 4111 University Blvd., Tyler, 75701 or the Regional East Texas Food Bank, 3201 Robertson Road, Tyler, 75701.