John Phillip Higley |
| Posted 2008-04-28 by Judy Wight Branson |
| Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Wednesday, April 23, 2008 On April 21, 2008, John Phillip Higley left this world and crossed a mountain pass where game and wildlife are eternally abundant. He was born on Nov. 12, 1946, in Warren, Ohio, to Donald (Red) and Mildred (Ringley) Higley. When he was 6 months old, Johnny and his big sister Linda moved with their parents to Arizona’s Skull Valley in 1947. A few years later, the young family settled in the wonderful old-time Prescott neighborhood of the Mountain Club, where they lived while John went through Prescott’s school system, played Little League and high school football at Ken Lindley Field, ran track and participated on the wrestling team before he graduated from Prescott High School in 1964. John then went on to get his Associates Degree from Eastern Arizona College in 1966 and joined the U.S. Navy the next year, where he served honorably from 1967-1971. John married Beverly Meadows in 1970 and together they worked to build a happy home, raising two very accomplished daughters, Dena and Karen. Higley was a dedicated “rodeo dad and grandad” who drove thousands of miles pulling a horse trailer throughout the Western States to Junior and High School Rodeos as he proudly watched his daughters and granddaughters compete in several rodeo events. John enjoyed taking his wife, daughters and grandchildren out into nature, where he taught them to love the outdoors, safely shoot firearms and respect the sport of hunting. An early and passionate advocate of passive solar power, he built two solar houses, one in Capitan, New Mexico, and the other in his hometown of Prescott. Higley’s career as a firefighter at Central Yavapai Fire District is legendary. Starting in the district as a mechanic/firefighter in 1972, he was later promoted to assistant chief for 15 years and then continued till retirement in December 1993 as chief of the district. Numerous times John filled the void between chiefs to keep the district running smoothly. He mentored dozens of young firefighters who are still protecting us in the area today, taught many fire science classes at Yavapai College, and coauthored one of the first manuals, still being used today, which taught the procedures and protocols for administrating a fire district. To honor Chief Higley’s years of dedicated service, station flags will be flown at half-staff. John’s greatest pleasures came from the many hunting trips he took with family and friends. He was most content out in nature, gazing through binoculars, walking or riding horseback for miles and miles looking for deer, elk, turkey, javelina or any wildlife. He often enjoyed going with his friends to be camp cook even if he wasn’t actually able to hunt any game. All his friends and family loved having John in camp, making them laugh, cooking great food or just telling stories of other hunts and sometimes about his firefighting days. He will be greatly missed as one of the “Three Musketeers,” by his many other hunting buddies, and all of his family members. John was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his loving wife and constant caregiver Beverly; his daughters Dena (Richard) Rodriguez and Karen (Jerrad) Smith; his beloved five grandchildren who he was so very proud of, Ricky, Rocky and Rudy Rodriguez and Garrett and Kaycee Smith; his sister Linda (Cary) Price; a niece and nephew; several cousins, extended family and a multitude of new and lifelong friends who loved and laughed with him often. Hampton Funeral Home is taking care of the Gathering of Friends to celebrate John’s life from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 26, 2008, at the Higley home. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the John Higley Memorial Fund at any branch of the National Bank of Arizona. Services were entrusted to Hampton Funeral Home. Information provided by survivors. |
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