Helen Higdon Alisson
May 26, 1920 - July 1, 2014
Helen Higdon Allison, who died at Autumn Care of Waynesville, North
Carolina, on July 1, was one of the founders of the Higdon Family
Assoication and attended most annual meetings until she was in her late
80s. She had resided in Lincolnton, NC, until recently, when she became
ill. Born on May 26, 1920, she had celebrated her 94th birthday this
year. (Her obituary, printd below, can also be found on the website of
Applachian Funeral Services, Sylva, North Caolina.)
She was the daughter of the late Dennis Cleveland Higdon and the late
Ethel (Higdon) Higdon. On February 19, 1949, she married Claude Howard
Allison. Helen was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, a
step-son, Jack Howard Allison and wife, Judy, two brothers, Joe Higdon
and Dennis Higdon, Jr., and a sister, Nola Higdon Lilley.
Helen grew up in the community of Webter, North Carolina, on Little
Savannah and graduated from Webster High School in 1938. In 1942, she
graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (then
known as "Woman's College") with a Bachelor of Science degree in Home
Economics. From 1942-1949, she worked as a Home Demonsration Agent with
the NC Extension Service in Swain and Henderson Counties. In August
1965, Helen was awardd a Master's degree in Counseling and Guidance from
Western Carolina University. She worked as a high school counselor in
Gaston and Mecklenburg Counties until her rtirment in 1985. Helen was
very active in her church and community, holding many offices of
leadership and receiving many awards for excellence in service.
After retirement, Helen returned to western North Carolina and resided
in Sylva, NC unitl 2000, when she moved to Cresent View Retirement
Center in Arden, NC. On April 9, 2008, Helen became the first resident
at Carillon Assisted Living of Lincolnton, In 2009, Helen was crowned
Senior Apple Queen of the Lincoln County Assisted Living Pageant.
On April 26, 2014, Helen returned to her beloved mountains as a resident
of Autumn Care Nursing and Rehailitation, Waynesville, NC. Over the
years, Heen's hobbies included traveling internationally, swimming, card
playing, bingo, church and cummunity service.
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Helen was elected to the first Board of Directors of the Higdon Family
Association, Inc. at its organizational meeting, held in Raleigh NC in
October 1976. She was elected 3d Vice President at the October 1977
meeting in Ashevill, NC, and subsquently was elected President at the
1980 Meeting held in Knoxville, TN. She presided over the 1981 meeting
held in Belmont, NC. Her mother, Ethel Higdon Higdon, was elected a
Director at that meeting. Helen served as HFA Historian 1989-Octobr
2001. (see the HFA website for minutes and information about all the
meetings.)
Surviving Hele, in addition to her sister, HFA member Eva Higdon Wood,
of Andrews, NC, are her three daughters and their husbands: Chip and Jim
Sitts of Morganton, Claudette and Vernon Scott of Lincolnton, Pam and
Keith Shuler of Sylva; grandchildren: Allison Michelle Scoot of
Lincolnton, Alli Nicole Sitts of Morganton, Kathleen and Eddie Davis of
Asheville, Cody an dMelanie Allison of Nashville, Erin and Doug Mullins
of Knoxville, Megan and Kylie Kalloway of Davis, Maggie and Jack
Allison, and Kayleigh Kalloway.
Memorials may be given to Samaritan's Purse Livestock and Dairy Animals
(www.samaritanspurse.org/donation-items/livestock-2), Four Seasons
Hospice of Hendersonville (www.fourseasonscfl.org), First Presbyterian
Church, General Fund, Sylva, NC or Covenant Bible Church Renovations
Fund, POB 654, Lincolnton, NC 28093
A celebration of Helen's life was held at Applachian Funeral Services in
Sylva on Saturday, July 5. The family received friends there before the
service. A special graveside service was held in Keener Cemetery,
Sylva, with the Rev. Dave Hebertson of Lincolnton officiating. An online
registry is available at www.appalachianfuneralservices.com
A celebration of Helen's life was held at Appalachian Funeral Services
in Sylva on Saturday, July 5. The family received friends there before
the service. A special graveside service was held in Keener Cemetery,
Sylva, with the Rev. Dave Herbertson of
Lincolnton officiating. An online registry is available at
www.appalachianfuneralservices.com.
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