James E. Higdon

BRITT - James E. Higdon, 81, of Britt died Friday (July 16, 2010) at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City. Funeral services will be held 10:30 A.M., Tuesday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Britt with Fr. Dennis Miller officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery with military rites by the Britt Veterans Ceremonial Unit. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 P.M., Monday at the Cataldo Funeral Home in Britt with a Scriptural wake service at 7:30 P.M. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church. Memorials may be directed to Hospice of North Iowa or to the donor's choice. James Eugene Higdon, the son of Harold and Minnie (Fox) Higdon, was born March 16, 1929 at Britt. He graduated from Britt High School in 1947 and continued his education at Britt Junior College. In 1950, he moved to Alaska where he was employed in civil engineering. Jim served his country from 1951 to 1953 in the U.S. Army being stationed in Italy. In 1953 he was married and to this union two daughters were born, Cathy and Kelly. They lived in California where Jim finished his college degree and began working as a building inspector for San Bernardi...[more]

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County. In 1977, he retired from this position after eighteen years of employment and began his own electrical contracting business. On May 17, 1989 he married Esther Dogero at Rancho Cucamonga, CA. They lived in California until 1994 when they moved to Britt. Jim enjoyed being a Breakfast Buddy for ten years at West Hancock Community Schools. He was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church and the Britt American Legion. Jim was active in his community attending city council meetings frequently and voicing his opinion. Jim is survived by his wife, Esther, of Britt; two daughters, Cathy (Steve) Francis of San Luis Obispo, CA and Kelly (Lee) Olivas of Rancho Cucamonga, CA; four grandchildren, Joe Lewis, Riley Francis, Lilliana Olivas and Rose Olivas; two step-children, Kristy (Chris) Caldera of Fontana, CA and Jeffrey Wyman of Bull Head City, AZ; step-grandson, Jonathan Malette; four sisters, Marian (George) Dingman of Eden Prairie, MN, LaVon Larson of Wesley, Carmen (Gene) Mower of Chippewa Falls, WI and Shirley (Joe) Nussbaum of Corsicana, TX; a brother, Charles (Mavis) Higdon of Reding, CA; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant brother; and a brother-in-law, Arvin Larson.