Marvin E. Higgins

Marvin Higgins, 99, of Jonesboro, passed away on Sunday, July 16th, 2023 at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House. He was born to Comer and Jimmie Higgins in Waterloo, Alabama on April 1st, 1924.

In order to build Pickwick Lake, the Tennessee Valley Authority flooded the Waterloo land that Marvin’s dad farmed, so the family moved to Trumann and then on to Nettleton, Arkansas.

Marvin later became a United States Marine and trained at Parris Island, SC and Camp Lejune, NC and Camp Pendleton, California.

He also worked at Pardew’s store in Nettleton in the 1950s. He drove a school bus for Nettleton schools, farmed cotton, and operated Higgins Brothers Service Station at Nettleton until the 1968 tornado destroyed it. It was at that service station that he met his most famous customer, Elvis Presley, who stopped to get gas on his way to a Bono show. Marvin also drove a freight truck for Jones and then Yellow truck lines until retirement. After retirement, he liked to loaf with his coffee buddies at the old Indian Mall, Pruitt’s Service Station, and Art Shea’s Dairy Queen. He enjoyed camping and fishing on the Spring River in Hardy, Arkansas. Marvin also loved to garden. He grew huge tables full of tomatoes, rows of corn, peas, beans, potatoes, and squash that he would share with all of his friends and family. Marvin had open heart surgery in 2001, and not many people last 22 years after such a procedure. He hardly let anything slow him down.

Marvin was a member of the Church of Christ.

More than anything, Marvin loved his family. He would do whatever was necessary to take care of his wife and kids, help his mother, brothers and sisters, and his nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Marvin was preceded in death by his wife, Martha Higgins, and by his brothers and sisters, Lady Maude Shockley, Lois Fay Higgins, Newt Higgins, Clarence Higgins, Clifford Higgins, Minford “Pent” Higgins, and James Higgins.

He is survived by his son, Van Higgins, and a daughter, Polly Higgins, both of Jonesboro and by his sister Patsy Stephens, also of Jonesboro. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and brother-in-law and sister-in-law Herbert and Mary Pierce of Jonesboro.

Marvin was the type of man who would give you the shirt off his back. In the 1970s, he worked at Jones Truck Line. A co-worker’s car wouldn’t start, so Marvin told the man to take him to his house in Jonesboro and drive Marvin’s truck back home to Marked Tree, keep it overnight, and bring it back the next day. That’s what the man did, and he was Marvin’s loyal friend and co-worker from then on.

Marvin truly cared about people. He took care of his dad as he suffered from cancer, visited his brothers and cousin in the nursing home, and drove another brother to cancer treatment. Marvin also took his kids and nieces/nephews on many trips in the Summer, whether it was a drive looking for good peaches or an outing to the river.

Dad was the best man we knew, had a signature grin, was no nonsense yet had a great sense of humor, was tough as nails, a hard worker, and was well loved by his friends, family, and co-workers. He packed so much life into his 99 years, and he will be dearly missed.

A special thanks to Dr. Ben Owens and his wonderful nurse Christy Thetford, R.N., Dr. Corey Diamond, Josh McCrackin, L.P.N., St. Bernard’s Hospital, and Flo and Phil Jones Hospice (and nurse Tracy) for taking such great care of dad.

Graveside service will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 19th at Pine Log cemetery. There will be no visitation.

Lasting memorials may be sent to Flo and Phil Jones Hospice, 400 East St., Jonesboro, AR 72401, or Pine Log Cemetery Assn., 11656 Hwy. 49N., Brookland, AR  72417.