Ollie Higgins

Ollie Higgins, 87, a longtime resident of Abilene, Texas, died Tuesday, May 20, 2014 at Hendrick Medical Center. Born in Merkel, Texas on September 16, 1926, he was the son of Ida (Taylor) and W.O. Higgins. Ollie joined the Army Air Corps, serving during World War II as a Flight Engineer on a B-24 in the South Pacific. After the war, he became a road contractor, building highways all over the State until 1966. Ollie and Kent Waddell started Abilene Aero in 1968 and Chaparral Airlines in the early 1970’s. In 1989, he and his son, Steve, started a registered Angus ranch at Bronte which he enjoyed doing until the present. Ollie married Flora Jean Rutledge in Merkel on April 20, 1947. Ollie was a member of Pioneer Drive Baptist Church. He served on the Board of Directors of Hendrick Hospital in the 1980’s. He was preceded in death by an infant daughter, his parents, two brothers and three sisters. Ollie is survived by his wife, Jean Higgins of Bronte; one son, Steve Higgins and wife Cathy of Abilene; and two grandchildren, Jenee’ Higgins, and Cory Higgins and wife Jessica. Survivors also include his brother, W. D. “Bill” Higgins and wife Eudera of Abilene, and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, May 23, at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church with Bro. Jack Ridlehoover officiating. Interment will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery in Merkel directed by The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene. Serving as pallbearers will be Cory Higgins, David Bridgford, Deloss Edwards, Donnie Edwards, Terry Higgins and Sam Hughes. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, North Central Texas Chapter, 301 S. Pioneer Drive, Suite 105, Abilene, TX 79605, or Hendrick Hospice Care, 1682 Hickory St., Abilene, TX 79601.