Sylvia Edythe Higgins

Sylvia Edythe Higgins, 97, of Farmington, AR, passed away peacefully on December 4, 2024, at Willard Walker Hospice Care in Fayetteville. Born on November 14, 1927, in Clifty, AR, to Edgar Taylor and Helen Martin, Sylvia grew up in Arkansas and Ohio, surrounded by her close-knit family. The values she learned in those early years—resilience, loyalty, and love—would guide her throughout her long and meaningful life. In the late 1940s, Sylvia met a young man named Cecil Higgins, who had returned home after serving in World War II. The two built a life filled with love and devotion. Together, they raised two sons, Gary and Jim, instilling in them the importance of family and hard work. Sylvia supported her husband and children through life’s joys and challenges, embodying what it meant to be a steadfast wife and mother. Tragically, in 1968, Cecil was killed in a train accident. Despite this heartbreaking loss, Sylvia remained a pillar of strength for her family, never remarrying and cherishing his memory for nearly 60 years. She endured further heartache with the untimely loss of her eldest son, Gary, in a car accident just a few years later. These profound losses shaped Sylvia’s life, but they never broke her ability to press on. Known for her independence and determination, Sylvia was a woman ahead of her time. She had a sharp wit, a strong will, and a deep love for her family. She delighted in playing cards, cheering for sports teams, and spoiling her grandchildren. She lived simply and left an indelible mark on everyone who knew her. Sylvia saw nearly a century of change in her lifetime, from the Great Depression to the digital age, but her greatest joy was her family. She leaves behind a legacy of love, strength, and resilience that will echo through generations to come. Sylvia is survived by her devoted son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Laura Higgins; her sisters Alice Vaughn, Mildred Bone, Bonnie Strode, Pat Edwards, and Mary Stout; her brother-in-law Bobby Stout; her 5 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and 30 nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Edgar and Helen Taylor; her brothers Oscar, John, Robert, and Albert Taylor; her husband, Cecil Higgins; and her son, Gary Higgins. A viewing will be held at Sisco Funeral Chapel in Springdale, AR, on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at 1:00 PM, followed by a service at 2:00 PM. The family invites all who knew and loved Sylvia to join them in celebrating her remarkable life.

Sylvia Edythe Higgins

November 14, 1927 - December 4, 2024