Mary Jo Higginbotham, 81, of Cherokee Village died Saturday, October 13, 2012, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, MO from a heart condition. She was born August 1, 1931 in Naylor, MO to Harlan and Tola (Sweet Mama) Shaver. She graduated from Pocahontas High School, where she was a cheerleader and homecoming queen, and won several beauty pageants in her youth. Most of her adult life she resided in Walnut Ridge and Hardy, where she has owned and operated the family business, Higginbotham Funeral Services, Inc. and Higginbotham Burial Insurance Co. for many years. Mary Jo was a member of the First United Methodist Church. She loved the water and spending time at Lake Norfork. She cared for four stray dogs that found their way to her lake house in Cherokee Village.
Preceding her in death were her parents; husband, William C. Higginbotham (Bill); sons, William C. (Carter) Higginbotham and Kevin Carson Higginbotham; brother, Ray Shaver; sister, Jenny Selby.
Survivors include her son, Dr. Robert Lee Higginbotham of Eugene, OR; granddaughter, Rachel Young of Sherwood; great-grandchild, Addison; sister, Peggy Yerton of Tulsa, OK.
Visitation will be Wednesday, October 17, 12:00pm to 2:00pm at Cox Funeral Home Chapel in Walnut Ridge; funeral service immediately following visitation at Cox Funeral Home Chapel in Walnut Ridge with Pam Guidrey of Fountain Place in Cherokee Village and Daniel Mullen officiating. Burial to follow in Lawrence Memorial Park in Walnut Ridge. Pallbearers are Daniel Mullen, Clell Cox, Jeff Taylor, Stan Jones, John Bland, Bill Wilcoxson.
The family request in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Cherokee Village Animal Shelter, 1531 Highway 289 North, Cherokee Village, AR 72429.
Online guest registry www.coxfhwalnutridge.com.