Elizabeth M. Higginbotham (Bolivar)'s Obituary
Elizabeth Marion (Teats) Higginbotham left this mortal realm to begin her eternity with her Savior on September 29, 2025. Known to her friends as Marion, she was born in Dubois, Pennsylvania on August 2, 1935. Marion was part of a large family, with 9 brothers and sisters. She was an accomplished musician, playing the organ, piano, violin, clarinet, and yes, even the accordion. For part of Marion’s early years, she lived with her grandparents, William Henry Hartzfield and Florence A. Hartzfield (Kelichner). She attended Eastern Bible Institute in Greenlane, PA, where she met her first love, Marshall Chapman Higginbotham Jr. The one great thing they shared was a love for, and desire to serve, Jesus Christ. She may not have been fully aware of the sacrifices and challenges that serving would require, because shortly after marrying Marshall, she found herself arriving by bush plane at the remote Alaskan village of Aniak. Their mission there was to spread the Word of God, but also included building a Post Office, travelling by dog sled, processing wild game and raising their daughters, Katherine and Sharon. After, completing the Alaska mission, Marion and Marshall ministered to the Mohawk reservation in New York. They were blessed with a son, Mark, when they returned to Dubois, PA. Later, the family packed up and moved to Arizona, where they were engaged in raising, breeding, and showing Appaloosa horses. Later, they moved to Miami, Texas, where Marion lost her husband to illness stemming from injuries he sustained in Alaska. After many years living alone, met and married Dan Wallace of DeSoto, TX. They were married until Dan passed and Marion remained single, yet still devoted to serving in her church. Marion moved to Bolivar, Missouri to be closer to her daughter, Sharon. She was active in the Assembly of God church there, until age and infirmity required her to move into assisted living. Marion loved to study scripture and listen to Gospel hymns. Even with her failing health and loss of mobility, her faith never faltered. Marion was preceded in death by her parents, Curtis McKinley Teats and Emma Viola (Hartzfield) Teats, brothers, Francis, Edward, and Curtis, Jr., and sister, Loretta. Also, by her husband Marshall, and her second husband Dan. She is survived by her children, Katherine Shephard (Guy), Sharon Elwood (Lonnie), and Mark Higginbotham (Dawn). She is also survived by siblings, Margaret Radakar, James Teats, Dorothy Shrauger, Fred Teats, and Linda Gray. In addition to her children, Marion left a legacy of 7 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. A graveside service for Elizabeth will take place at 2:00 PM on Saturday, October 4, 2025. In lieu of flowers, the family would like donations made to Lake Stockton Healthcare and Hospice Facility in Stockton, Missouri, for the wonderful care the facility and staff provide for their residents.
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