Arvella Higby Obituary

Durango resident Arvella Joye Higby died after a short illness Monday, June 17, 2013, in Durango. She was 82.

Mrs. Higby was born to George and Octavia Nemecek on Feb. 15, 1931, in Los Angeles. She grew up in Titusville, Fla.

In the late 1940s, she married Isaac Judson McLemore in Titusville. The couple moved to California in 1952. The marriage ended in divorce in 1966.

In 1969, she married John Higby II in Los Angeles.

She and her husband owned several real estate companies and two escrow offices in Southern California before moving to Durango in 1989.

Mrs. Higby supervised the building of the family ranch, "Wild Wings," in the Animas Valley. For the last six years, she had lived at Sunshine Gardens West.

Mrs. Higby loved music, gardening, reading, especially history and animals. She enjoyed teaching her grandson, Tylan Gilbert, how to bake.

"Arvella never turned down a chance to play cards or a board game with her family," her family said. "She did beautiful embroidery."

Mrs. Higby was an active Rotarian and a Paul Harris Fellow. She was proud of being one of the first women admitted to Rotary in California.

Mrs. Higby also enjoyed supporting local organizations, including the La Plata County Humane Society.

Mrs. Higby was preceded in death by her husband of 37 years, John Higby II.

She is survived by her daughter, Chessa Gill of Durango; stepson, John Higby III of Canyon Country, Calif; stepdaughter, Donna Galli of Tonopah, Nev.; two grandchildren; and numerous extended family members.

A celebration of life will be held at 4 p.m. Monday, June 24, 2013, at Sunshine Gardens.

Memorial contributions may be sent to the La Plata County Humane Society; or Rotary Club of Durango, P.O. Box 38, Durango, CO 81302.