Donald Wayne Higgins

Donald Wayne Higgins, age 85, of Ozark, Arkansas passed peacefully and joined his family and friends in Heaven, Sunday, April 6, 2025 in Ozark. He was born May 10, 1939 in Mulberry, Arkansas to Elmer Earl “Pete” and Ora Mae Meadows Higgins. Don was a member of the Assembly of God Church, served as a Sunday School Superintendent and Deacon at congregations in Covina, California, Mulberry, Arkansas, and Ozark, Arkansas. In high school and as a young man, he enjoyed car racing on “the strip” on highway 64 east of Mulberry. He lived in Glendora, California for several years and made numerous church friends. He enjoyed spending holidays on the Colorado river with friends, water skiing, driving a speed boat, getting horribly sunburned, even sinking the speed boat in the Colorado river during a storm. Don was a farmer, spread chicken litter and lime, drove a dump truck and helped build I-210 in California, was the owner and driver of an 18-Wheeler and drove for Dewayne Higgins Trucking of Mulberry, Arkansas. He was also a “self-proclaimed” assistant manager banned from the cash register at Hillbilly Quik Stop in Ozark, sneaking more candy bars and biscuits and gravy than he should have as a diabetic. Don had great love for his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, but his greatest love was his wife, Walkana. He and Walkana spent numerous nights attending rodeos, county fairs, and trail rides in Arkansas and Oklahoma. In the years prior to his death, he suffered from dementia, but anytime given the opportunity, he continued to open and close the car door for Walkana. While going for drives, he would continue to tell the driver how to drive while sitting in the back, even proclaiming the driver was going “too fast” at times. His family and friends will miss him dearly. Don is preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Wanda Morse and Linda Medlock; and one brother, Bill Higgins. Don is survived by his wife of 65 years, Walkana Alston Higgins; one daughter, Ginger Woolsey of Ozark; one son, Scott Higgins and wife Laura of Alma, Arkansas; one brother, Harold Higgins and wife Francis of Mulberry; one sister, Margaret McCabe of Ozark; eight grandchildren, Lisa Woolsey of Lexington, Kentucky, Lindsay Woolsey and fiancé Charles of Russellville, Arkansas, Leslie Black and husband Cody of Russellville, Jake Higgins of Boulder, Colorado, Max Higgins and fiancé Alana of Springdale, Arkansas, Eric Melton and wife Meisha of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Kaili Donahue and husband Matt of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Alayna Adams and husband Clayton of Fayetteville; and twelve great grandchildren, Miriam Phwandaphwanda of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Naomi Phwandaphwanda and Esther Phwandaphwanda both of Lexington, Kentucky, Milani Carter, Nora Grace Black, Brooks Black, Barron Black, Amira Carter all of Russellville, Arkansas, Magnolia Melton and Murphy Melton of Fayetteville, and James Donahue and Susannah Donahue of Tulsa. Visitation will be 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., Thursday, April 10, 2025 at Shaffer Funeral Home, 2315 West Commercial Street in Ozark. Funeral service will be 10:00 A.M., Friday, April 11, 2025 at the Mulberry First Assembly of God Church, 314 Heard Avenue Mulberry, Arkansas, with Brother Jim McElhaney and Brother John Kindrix officiating, with burial at New Cemetery, Alma Avenue in Mulberry. Serving as pallbearers will be Dwight Morse, Rickey Morse, Dewayne Higgins, Brent Higgins, Jeff Brown, and Kendale Wagner. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Bill Vickery, Oscar Parrish, and Joe Powell. To leave an online memorial visit www.shafferfuneralhomeweb.com

Donald Wayne Higgins

May 10, 1939 - April 6, 2025