Nellie Higgins

SIOUX CITY -- Nellie McCline Higgins, 87, of Sioux City passed away unexpectedly Monday, Aug. 31, 2009, at a Sioux City hospital.

Memorial services will be 11 a.m. Friday, September 4, 2009 at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel, with the Rev. Scott Squires officiating. Burial of the cremated remains will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at the funeral home. Condolences may be sent online to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Nellie was born Dec. 2, 1921, in Newell, Iowa, the daughter of George "Harry" and Lillie (Schumann) McCline. She graduated from Varina (Iowa) High School and the Methodist Hospital School of Nursing in Sioux City. She also attended Morningside College and the University of Minnesota.

She married Donald B. Higgins on June 28, 1947, in Omaha. She was employed with Methodist Hospital and St. Luke's Regional Medical Center in Sioux City for 39 years. She served in many positions and retired as vice president of patient services in 1986. She often referred to the hospital as her second home.

She was active at Crescent Park United Methodist Church, where she coordinated funeral luncheons for many years. She referred to the 91st Psalm as her life line. She was active in the community and many nursing organizations. She served on the boards of Planned Parenthood, the June E. Nylen Cancer Center, Gordon Recovery Center (now Jackson Recovery Center), St Luke's College and St. Luke's Auxiliary. She volunteered with Hospice of Siouxland. She enjoyed the Retired Methodist Nurse's Club and watching television sports, especially the Iowa State Cyclones and the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Survivors include her husband, Donald of Sioux City; three children, Bob Higgins of Sioux City, Scott Higgins and his wife, Aimee of Cary, Ind., and Nancy Higgins of Sioux Falls, S.D.; four grandchildren, Erika, William, Claire and Ross; twin great-grandsons, Alex and Jake; and a sister-in-law, Adelaide McCline.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and two brothers, Robert McCline and Raymond McCline in infancy.

Memorials may be made in her name to St. Luke's College of Nursing or Crescent Park United Methodist Church.