Laverne Mattie (England) Higgs
January 26 1937 – December 29 2015
Greatly loved, Laverne peacefully passed with her daughter at her side following a 5 year decline from Alzheimer’s.
She was one of 9 children born in Gainesville GA and often shared many cherished memories of growing up in a loving family. She recalled fondly playing the piano for her church and at her high school graduation, becoming a member of the National Beta Club, and earning an award as a high school basketball player.
She moved to Atlanta to follow her dreams of becoming a Registered Nurse attending Georgia Baptist School of Nursing (today Mercer University). While in school, she was featured in a local newspaper as senior student nurse Laverne England ‘…admiring the beautiful baby who will one day thank you for saving her life’. She graduated and received her Registered Nurse degree June 1958.
Laverne met Robert, her beloved husband, through mutual friends and married August 9, 1958. Together they built a beautiful life in Atlanta with their priorities being family, their faith in God and close friends. They often said their daughter Sherry was one of their greatest blessings. Laverne loved her profession which she considered a calling. Throughout her career she practiced all aspects of her profession from surgical nursing to private practice with MD’s in the Atlanta area.
Laverne was known for her sparkling and gracious personality and for making all feel welcome and loved. She and her husband moved to Seattle to be with their daughter Sherry and her husband in September 2001. Her faith in God and strength in character helped her through difficult times when she lost her beloved husband in 2003 to an untimely death. Afterwards, she developed a close circle of friends at St. George Episcopal Church in Maple Valley, WA where she attended with her daughter and son-in-law.
She is survived by daughter and son-in-law Sherry and Michael Maple, sisters Illa Wilkes, Mildred Ables, Betty Roberts, brother Eugene England and many loving nieces and nephews.
She inspired the best in all that have known her and will live forever in our hearts. We take comfort in knowing she is with God and those she loved that passed before her.
Memorials celebrating her life will be held in Maple Valley WA and Gainesville GA.
Donations to Alzeheimer’s Association (Alz.org) or Providence Hospice of Seattle Foundation (425 Pontius Ave. N, #300, Seattle WA 98109) in lieu of flowers are preferred.
