Vonnie Jean Higgins Obituary (1935 - 2014)

Vonnie Jean Higgins, 79 years of age, of Beatrice passed away at the Beatrice Good Samaritan Center Saturday afternoon, October 25, 2014. She was born on July 15, 1935 in Arcadia, NE to Bernal and Vera (Jewell) Snodgrass. Vonnie was a 1953 graduate of Grand Island High School. She and Jerry Hepp were married on June 7, 1953 and they later divorced. Vonnie and Charles Higgins were married on July 17, 1987. She had been employed at Commercial National Bank in Grand Island for 8 years, and was employed in the Human Resources Department at the Beatrice Community Hospital for 33 years retiring in 2000. Vonnie had been a recipient of the Employee of the Year at the Beatrice Community Hospital. She also worked at Countryside Greenhouse with her daughter Pam; and had been a receptionist at the Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice. She was an active member of Centenary United Methodist Church in Beatrice having served on various committees, member of the choir, served communion, and past member of the Elizabeth Circle. She was a past member and first women elected to the Southeast Nebraska Credit Union. She was a hospice volunteer at the Beatrice Community Hospital and volunteered at their gift shop. She enjoyed reading, cooking and baking, flowers, sewing, quilting, cross stitch, her volunteer work, and loved animals (especially her beloved dog Angel). Survivors include her husband Charles; children Jeff Hepp and wife Janet of Bakersfield, CA, Tony Hepp of Versailles, KY, Pam Peterson and husband Daniel "Dewey" of Beatrice, and Amy Hanshaw and husband Matt of Beatrice; step son Scott Higgins and wife Jackie of Springfield, MO; 7 grandchildren Chelsey DeGroot and husband Dylan, Elliott Hepp, Michaela Wilcox, Haleigh Hanshaw, Jordan Hanshaw, and Shea and Grant Higgins; 5 great grandchildren; 2 sisters Betty Rohweder and Janice Pickler, both of Grand Island; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her father Bernal E. Snodgrass; mother and step father Vera and Bill Catlett; and an infant sister. Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:00 AM Thursday, October 30, 2014 at the Centenary United Methodist Church with Reverend Charles Spence and Chaplain Sharon Schuster officiating. Private interment will be held at the Evergreen Home Cemetery. Closed casket visitation will be held Wednesday from 10-9:00 at the Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice with the family greeting friends from 7-8:30 PM. A memorial has been established to Hospice with the funeral home in charge. Sign Vonnie's online guest book and watch her video tribute when completed at www.ghchapel.com. These services have been entrusted to the Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice.