Anne Higgins
Died June 29, 2014
SUTTONS BAY - (Mary) Anne Higgins,
81, died on June 29, 2014 at her
home in Suttons Bay. She was born on May 24,1933, in Battle Creek, the daughter
of Keith and Mary (Lesher) Schroder.
Anne grew up in Battle Creek and attended Lakeview High School
before going on to complete her high school education at The Masters School of
Dobbs Ferry, NY. She was a graduate of Northwestern University and Cranbrook
Academy of Art, where she majored in painting and began her lifelong profession
and patronage of the fine arts.
“I paint because I must,”
she said in a 1998 newspaper interview about her work. “I
am telling myself a story, and I put my words into a visual setting.”
Anne’s abstract paintings of the human figure and, later in her
career, of landscapes frequently appeared in juried museum exhibitions and
galleries in Battle Creek, in Jackson Hole, WY, where she lived from 1996 to
2004, and in Traverse City. Her most recent work appeared in Northwest Michigan
Regional: A Juried Exhibition of Michigan Fine Art at the Dennos Museum
Center.
Anne served as president of the Art Center of Battle Creek and as
a board member of the Center of the Arts of Jackson Hole. Her love of nature
inspired her to support the missions of the Conservancy for Jackson Hole and
the Leelanau Conservancy—and to nurture a flower garden as
stunning as one of her paintings. Anne also enjoyed laughing alongside a circle
of childhood friends and others she met through her Pi Beta Phi alumni group
and pilates.
Anne’s husband of 59 years, Richard J. Higgins, survives., she is
survived by her children, Peter (Cheryl), Pamela (Steve), Gregory (Carole), and
Blake; and her grandchildren:
Taylor, Connor, Wilson, Cameron, and Ryan.
Contributions in Anne’s
name may be directed to the Leelanau Conservancy, P.O. Box 1007, Leland, MI
49654.
Please share memories with Anne’s
family at her online obituary at www.martinson.info.
To Anne's family - I have known Anne since I was a child and have always been in awe of her artistic talent. As a young adult I was in several art classes with her. Her concepts were always thought provoking, I recall her challenging the instructor and truly relishing the process of making her art. Thinking of her now makes me smile. Anne and my mother, Helen DeVine, were friends with birthdays only a week apart and I remember them calling each other with birthday wishes. My thoughts are with Anne's family at this difficult time. -Kathy DeVine
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to learn of Anne's passing. My heartfelt sympathy to the entire family. Annette Calvert
ReplyDeleteTo Anne's Family and Friends... Anne was a jewel in our neighborhood. Her quick wit, easy giggle and positive attitude in all things great and small... She was my fellow movie goer. We loved foreign films. Anne was legend at her pilates studio. Her art - spoke of her soul - she once found a small piece of glass along the road. She said she would create a canvas around it. She did! I miss her smile, her words of encouragement ... my pal. You are in my thoughts and prayers... Genie Aldrich Neighbor - Friend
ReplyDeleteDick: please accept my regret at Anne's passing. She was a favorite of both Margaret and me. Thankfully, I have one of her paintings to remind me of the talented person she was.
ReplyDeletePam and family, I am truly sorry to hear of your mom's passing. I have such warm memories of her when you and I were kids. Later, when I worked at the Art Center she was on the exhibition committee and I got to know her in a new way. She was such a talented artist! My mom always counted Anne as one of her oldest and dearest friends. Please accept my sympathies. I am thinking of you at this sad and difficult time. Linda Skidmore Van Dis
ReplyDeleteWhen Anne came to Stitch 'n Bitch, we could count on a jolly good time. Her artistic talent and creativity flowed into and out of every part of her life. We were simply awed by it. Mostly, we will miss her ready smile and quick wit. She was like a ray of sunshine—a good and loyal friend. Our sincere condolences to Dick and the children.
ReplyDelete