John Edward Higginbotham

John was born in Bowling Green, KY. August 28, 1948 to parents Thurman Fields Higginbotham and Georgia (Pettigo) Higginbotham. His early years were spent with paternal grandparents Edward and Bessie Ray Higginbotham in Indianapolis, IN., with frequent trips to Kentucky. His friends and large extended family knew him as “Eddie”.

He was raised with Southern Baptist beliefs and referenced that often especially for deceased grandparents and relatives, as “Absent from the body, present with the Lord” (II Corinthians 5:8). In his late teen years he met and married Sherry Lee Ross and they had daughter Sherry Elizabeth during their seven years together.

He was preceded in death by grandparents, parents, ex-wife Sherry Lee (Ross) Murray, daughter Sherry Elizabeth Jackson, half- sisters Judy Dougherty, Gail Christian, and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Surviving to mourn his loss are wife of 46 years Patricia (Nauss) Higginbotham, son Joshua Evan Higginbotham, grandchildren Jessica Ray Jackson, Alexander Armstrong, a favorite uncle in Kentucky, Donald Wayne Higginbotham, cousin Donna Jean (Higginbotham) Dossey (Royce), half- brothers Larry and Gary Higginbotham.

John Edward was a curious and creative soul, with a wide range of interests in the arts Including the visual arts of painting, cartoons, music, performing and writing his own songs, writing and self-publishing brochures. He enjoyed gardening and growing things. He attended Stark Tech to study computer science and pursued his personal interests online late into retirement. He finished his later years as a contract painter until retiring in 2016 after a stroke.

He will be remembered as a loving and good man. He was and is loved. A memorial service for John will be held at 11AM May 10th, 2025 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, North Canton, Ohio. His cremated remains will be interred at High Land Baptist Cemetery in High Land, Kentucky per his wishes