MILBRIDGE – Ida “Skip” Higgins is resting in eternal peace after succumbing to a long struggle with Alzheimer’s. She died April 28, 2010, at Narraguagus Bay Health Care Facility. Skip born Jan. 16, 1921, in Blue Hill, was the 12th of 13 children to the late Herbert W. and Lula (Hardison) Grindle. At the age 7, shortly after her dad died, Skip moved with her mother and baby sister to Ellsworth, only to survive another tragedy, the Ellsworth Fire. At age 16, Skip graduated from Ellsworth High School, where she was a member of the girl’s basketball team and enjoyed roller-skating. Soon after graduating Skip landed a job at West Jonesport Post Office. It was in Jonesport that she met and eventually married Hollis Higgins. In 1950, after two of Skip and Hollis’ sons were born, the family moved to Brewer, where their third son was born. While raising their family in Brewer, Skip began working for A&P grocery store as a bookkeeper. When A&P closed, Skip worked for Sampson’s Super Market, Brewer, where she ran the bakery department for several years. Shortly after the boys graduated from Brewer High School, Skip and Hollis moved back to Jonesport. Skip, always a worker, got a job at R. H. Rogers Hardware, Jonesport, and later Skip accepted the full-time positions of treasurer, tax collector and town clerk for the town of Jonesport, where she served for 20 years, retiring just before her 80th birthday. Skip was always accessible and ready to work, for she frequently conducted after hour’s town business out of her home to accommodate the town’s fishermen. It was not unusual for Skip to call town residents to remind them that their automobile registration was about to or had expired. Skip was a member of the Grange, Indian River; American Legion Auxiliary Rogers-Worcester Post No. 108 and past worthy matron of the Order of the Eastern Star, both in Jonesport. She was also a member of Sawyer Memorial Congregational Church, Jonesport. Skip loved to sew and knit, making her sons their clothes as they were growing up, and knitting mittens for many family members and friends. She loved animals, gardening, Spring River Lake, her black kitty cat, May 7, and she especially loved living on the Kelley Point Road, Jonesport. She had a special place in her heart for the town of Jonesport and the people there. Skip was predeceased by all of her 12 brothers and sisters; her parents; and her husband, Hollis K. Higgins. She is survived by her three sons, Dennis Higgins and his wife, Dorothy Rose, of Jonesport, Douglass Higgins and his wife, Anita, of Orrington and Dana Higgins and his wife, Terri, of Spring River Lake; four grandchildren, Jason Higgins of Jay, Joshua Higgins and his wife, Merianne, of Manchester, Ky., Jennifer King and her husband, Randy, of Bangor and Heather Fidler and her husband, John “JJ,” of Bangor; and nine great-grandchildren, Gunnar Higgins, Grace Higgins, Mary Carson Higgins, Luke Higgins, Nathan Higgins, Gabrielle King, Garrett King, Abigail Fidler and Benjamin Fidler. The family extends their heartfelt thanks to the staff at Narraguagus Bay Health Care Facility for the thoughtful, dedicated care provided to Skip during the last years of her life on Earth. Family and friends are invited to a graveside service 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 5, at Greenwood Cemetery, Jonesport, with the Rev. George Woodward officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Narraguagus Bay Health Care Facility, 3 Main St., Milbridge, ME 04658 or Alzheimer’s Association, 170 U.S. Route 1, Falmouth, ME 04105. Condolences may be sent to www.bragdonkelley.com.
IDA F. ‘SKIP’ (GRINDLE) HIGGINS
