John Richard Higgins

John Richard "Pops" Higgins
August 23, 1946 - June 12,2019
Also known as The Man,The Myth,The Navy Legend
John was born August 23, 1946, in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was adopted and became the son of the late Thelma and Brown Higgins. John, his parents and his brother Billy Higgins moved to Texas where he grew up. John was a Vietnam Veteran, enlisting in the Navy in Amarillo, Tx in 1965 and proudly served his country for 30 years before retiring in Bremerton, WA in 1995. In those 30 years, John reached the rank of BMCM (SW). He was a sailor extraordinaire, and in the eyes of his family, a larger than life Navy Legend and a true hero.
His Navy career consisted of Navy Enlisted Classifications such as Craftmaster - Large YFB, Assault Boat Coxswain and Boatswain’s Mate. He held US Navy Certificates in Operation Desert Storm, Gulf of Tonkin Yacht Club, Military Customs Inspector, Order of the Ditch, Order of the Shellback, Order of the Golden Shellback, Order of the Golden Dragon, Panama Canal, and Plank owner. In 1965 he started his career on the USS Joseph Strauss, and continued on a variety of ships including the USS Kiska and ending his career on the USNV Discovery Bay in 1995. He then attended Olympic College in Bremerton, WA completing his education as an Automotive Certified Technician.
John married Sharron and together they raised Dennis, Audrey, John (Boogie), Krystal, and Billy. In Dec, 2012 John reconnected with his daughter Tiffany of Amarillo,Tx.
John enjoyed playing softball and golfing. In 1999, while playing softball with his boys he met his MarionBear, Marion Higgins, became step dad to Robin and Marcos and has shared his life with his loving wife of 19 amazing years with their 8 children, 21 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. John’s other loves are his 1951 5 window Chevy pick up named Lola, his Dallas Cowboys, their cat Mama Bear and his favorite plant, Phil.
John was active in genealogy and has found his biological siblings, brother Patrick Jacobson and sisters Louise Jacobson and Kelly Cuevas and many cousins. John and Marion have enjoyed traveling to visit family, friends and old Navy buddies enjoying sites along the way such as Monument Valley, the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas and their annual Hot August Nights showing off Lola in Nevada. John enjoyed spending time with his friends and family, especially watching his grandkids play sports and doing Santa duty at Christmas.
In his words, He was the original Huggybear and Shellback in good standing as decreed by His Majesty, Neptumus Rex, Ruler of the raging main, and proclaimed to the seven seas by his royal scribe Davy Jones. A teller of mighty sea stories and fairy tales. He was a defender of the virtues of all women and children. A proud veteran, patriot, defender of the flag and the American way of life. He has been there and done that. Known from the Indian Ocean to the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. His name and his word was his bond. His integrity was unquestionable.
Words can not express how much you are loved and will be missed.
Fair winds and Following Seas Pops - until we see you again in heaven with our Savior.

He is survived by his loving wife of 19 amazing years, Marion Higgins, his children Dennis Higgins (Phyllis) of Spokane, WA, Audrey Reynolds (Larry) of Klamath Falls, OR, Tiffany McAlpine (Steve) of Amarillo,TX, John Lovett (Tavia) of Concord, CA, Krystal Higgins (Mike) of Murphy's, CA, Billy Higgins (Eradyn) of Winters, CA, Robin Biles of Concord, CA, Marcos Goodson (Rosalva) of Pittsburg, CA, brothers Billy Higgins of Manteca, CA, Patrick Jacobson of Farmington, UT, sisters Kelly Cuevas (Juan) of Union City, CA and Louise Jacobson of Farmington, UT. He was blessed with 21 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, and so many loving cousins, nieces and nephews, and his favorite plant, Phil.
Grandchildren: Jacob Higgins, Jamie Higgins, Jessie Marie Lovett, Mason Lovett, Tyson Lovett, Logan Lovett, Charlie Rose Lovett, Levi Willhite, Aidan Willhite, Aubree Higgins, Cameron Higgins, Chase Biles, Caitlin Biles, Alex Clark, Sofia Goodson, Selena Goodson, Sabrina Mena, Aja Harris, Justine Echols, Brenna Cariker, Michael Taylor.
Great Grandchildren: Bentley Scrivner, Tinslee Mena, Baya Mena, Frankie Maloy, Merlin Echols, Jezra Valencia.

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