Funeral for Philmont Fire Chief Vernon Higgins 03/11/13
03/11/13
The funeral for Philmont Fire Chief Vernon Higgins was held today. The service was held at the Sacco-McDonald-Valenti Funeral Home on Town Hall Drive in Greenport. Chief Higgins was laid to rest at the Mellenville Union Cemetery. His obituary is below.
Vernon Gary “Chief” Higgins — Philmont Fire Company Chief, passed away on March 6, 2013 at home, surrounded by his loving family. Vernon passed after a courageous 13 month battle with lung cancer.
Vernon is survived by his loving wife of 43 years Dorothy (Jennings) Higgins, daughter Donnaand (Ramon) Perry and son Kenneth Jennings, also grandsons Christopher (Jessica) Bleau of Philmont, Brian Bleau, Stephen Jennings and Jay B. Higgins. Great-granddaughters Bria Marie Bleau and Alyssa Skye Bleau and great-grandson Izac Jennings. Also survived by brothers Allen and sister-in-law Susan Higgins of Claverack and Ronald Higgins of Hudson. Sisters Marian and (Donald) Campbell of Linlithgo, Sandra and (John) Thompson of New Lebanon, Nancy Krapf of Florida and Sally and (Robert) Giblock of New Jersey. He also leaves his American Eskimo named Knight, in addition to many nieces, nephews and cousins.
In addition to his parents, Vernon was pre-deceased by his son Gary Alan Higgins who died on September 23, 2010 and his brother Henry Higgins Jr. Vernon will be greatly missed and never forgotten by all who loved him.
Calling hours will be Sunday from (3-6)pm at the Sacco-McDonald-Valenti Funeral Home 700 Town Hall Drive Hudson.
Funeral services will be Monday March 11, (11:00)am at the funeral home with Chaplain Rick Washburn officiating. Burial with Military Honors will follow in Mellenville Union Cemetery.
Memorial contributions in Vernon’s memory are requested to the Philmont Fire Department, 1 Maple Ave., Philmont, NY 12565.
Photos by Patrick McGrath & Lance Wheeler.
