Sarah Ellen Henry Higgs

Sarah Ellen Henry Higgs, 96, of Fort Pierce, passed away peacefully on July 10, 2018.

Sarah was born in El Paso, Texas on August 11, 1921, to John Handy Henry and Ruth Wood Henry. When she was eight weeks old her father died, and her mother returned to their home in Tampa, Florida. Sarah graduated from Hillsborough High School in 1939 where she was an active member in ROTC. She then graduated from the Business University of Tampa in 1941 before marrying her husband of 62 years, Horace Prescott Higgs, on August 16, 1942. Sarah worked at First National Bank in Tampa while her husband served with the Army Signal Corps in the southwest Pacific during World War II. After the war, they made Fort Pierce their home where their four daughters were born and raised. Sarah and Horace owned and operated Higgs Drive-In, a popular restaurant and gathering place from 1947 until 1964. Sarah also enjoyed an active career as secretary to the Director of Personnel for the St. Lucie County School System until her retirement in 1983.

In addition to being a loving and dedicated daughter, wife, mother, aunt, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend to many, Sarah had many interests throughout her life with a special passion for plants and wildlife conservation. An avid bird watcher, she was active in the St. Lucie Audubon Society and for many years participated in a variety of educational field trips and their annual Christmas Day bird count. Painted buntings frequented Sarah’s specially built bird feeders, prompting fellow birders to stop by for a glimpse. As a member of the American Hemerocallis Society, she grew a diverse collection of daylilies in her yard and worked tirelessly for years cross-pollinating her collection in an attempt to produce a pure white flower. As an active member in the Treasure Coast African Violet Society, Heathcote Botanical Gardens and the Garden Club of Fort Pierce, Sarah won many local and state awards for her gorgeous and creative flower arrangements. She also belonged to the Junior Woman’s Club, the St. Lucie Historical Society, the Backus Gallery and was a long-time member of Indian River Presbyterian Church.

Sarah was a collector of all things “Hummel,” a hobby that she passed on to her daughters. Her love of Hummels inspired a great deal of travel throughout the years. In 1985, she traveled to Germany with the Hummel Collectors’ Club and toured the Hummel factory where she met many of the artists. Sarah also enjoyed collecting antiques and depression glass.

Sarah is survived by her four daughters: Saralyn Zumbrum and her husband, Bill, of Fort Pierce, Susan Vocelle of Vero Beach, Sylvia Steacy of Tampa and Shiala Higgs and her husband, Jim Ferreira, of Gales Ferry, Connecticut. She is also survived by six grandchildren: Bill Holbrooks of Palm Bay, Ryan Zumbrum and his wife, Alexia, of Acworth, GA, Brandon Zumbrum and his wife, Angela, of Debary, Kristen Barstow and her husband, Donny, of Tallahassee, Lauren Vocelle of Chicago, IL, and Valerie Boucher and her husband, Patrick, of Somerset, NJ. along with eight great-grandchildren: Ella and Kate Zumbrum, Anna and Tripp Zumbrum, Eloise and Caroline Barstow and Aria and Nolan Boucher. Sarah also leaves behind two nieces, Carolyn Donohue of Asheville, NC and Jo Ann Rosenthal of Upper Black Eddy, PA and a nephew, Emery Higgs and his wife, Faye, of Florence, SC.

Sarah was preceded in death by her husband, Horace, brothers, Earl and Orville Sumner, son-in-law, Bill Steacy and nephew, Neil Higgs.

Memorial contributions may be made in Sarah’s memory to Indian River Presbyterian Church, 2499 Virginia Avenue, Fort Pierce, FL 34982 or to Treasure Coast Hospice, 5000 Dunn Road, Fort Pierce, FL 34981.

There will be a visitation from 5:00 to 8:00 pm on Friday, July 13, 2018 at Haisley Funeral Home, 3015 Okeechobee Road, Fort Pierce, FL. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, July 14, 2018 at Indian River Presbyterian Church, 2499 Virginia Avenue, Fort Pierce. Sarah will be interred next to her husband at White City Cemetery.