Today we rejoice in the knowledge that Hardie Higgins is forever at home with the Savior he faithfully served for 67 years. He was a son, given by the Lord, to Jack and Lenore Higgins in Blackwell, Oklahoma on September 8, 1944. He moved to his heavenly home January 23, 2012.

At the time of his death he resided in Cedar Hill, Texas with his wife of 24 years, Younghee. He was studying Global Leadership in the PhD program at Dallas Baptist University.

Reverend Higgins was educated in the Blackwell schools, graduating from BHS in 1962. He attended Northern Oklahoma College and later Northwestern University in Alva where he received his BA degree in 1982. In 1983 he received his Masters in Divinity in Religious Theology from Phillips University Seminary. He received the Doctor of Ministry (DM) from Grace Theological Seminary in 2006.

At the age of 17, Hardie enlisted in the Army Reserves on November 7, 1961 with the oath given by his father. Twenty-two years later Hardie was sworn in as a U.S. Army Chaplain at the United Methodist Conference Headquarters again by his father Lt. Col. Jack J. Higgins (Ret) Hardie was ordained an Elder in the United Methodist Church and was endorsed by the Division of Chaplains and Related Ministries in June 1984 to serve as an Active Duty Chaplain. As a young enlisted soldier, he served two combat tours in Vietnam. Before his retirement as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2005, he served as an Army Chaplain in Kuwait during Desert Storm and later in Iraq. He also served in Germany, Korea, and Guantanamo. He was the recipient of the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars, four Meritorious Service Medals, three Army Commendation Medals, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, two Army Achievement Medals, and numerous other awards.

Hardie pastored at Oklahoma United Methodist Churches in Jefferson, Renfro, and Copan. Many friends join the family in honoring Hardie and telling of his humor which brightened our lives. His many deeds of comfort and compassion will also be long remembered by us all.

He is survived by his wife, Younghee Higgins of Cedar Hill, Texas, one son, Christopher Higgins of Manhattan, Kansas, and a daughter, Leslie Sykes, her husband Matt and their son, Jesse, of Galva, Kansas and his former wife, Cheryl Lyn Higgins of McPherson, Kansas. He has two surviving sisters: Jacquelyn Graham of Blackwell, Oklahoma and Eleanore Johnson and husband Ralph of Oklahoma City.

He was preceded in death by both parents and his brother Jack Lenord Higgins.

The family will be receiving friends at a viewing at Roberts Funeral Home of Blackwell from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 26, 2012. The Celebration of Life will be in the Blackwell First United Methodist Church at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, January 27th. Rev. James Holifield of Newkirk and Rev. Pam Cottrill of Blackwell First Methodist Church officiating. Burial will follow in the Blackwell Cemetery with military rites performed by the United States Army.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)