Oma Juanita Higgs, age 98, of Mason, Illinois passed away at 9:40 a.m. on August 17, 2015 surrounded by her family at the Evergreen Nursing Home and Rehabilitation center in Effingham, Illinois.

Funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, August 20, 2015 at Pagel Funeral Homes in Edgewood, Illinois with a one hour viewing prior to the service. Roger McIntire will be officiating. Burial will be at Salem Methodist Church Cemetery in rural Altamont, Illinois. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, Agusut 19, 2015 at Pagel Funeral Homes in Edgewood, Illinois. Memorials may be made to Harvest Methodist Church in Edgewood, Illinois or donor’s choice.

Oma was born on November 28, 1916 in Neoga, Illinois, the daughter of Arthur F. and Nellie K. (Scammahorn) Hays. She married Delmar E. Higgs on December 2, 1939 in Sullivan, Indiana. She enjoys gardening, church functions, reading, cooking, and collecting recipes.

She is survived bed her sons, Marion Higgs (wife LaVerne) of Mason, Illinois, Kenneth Ivan Higgs (wife Suzie) of Mason, Illinois and Dwight Higgs (wife Judy) of Jewett, Illinois; daughters, Marvena Bowman (husband Ken) of Mason, Illinois, Janice Cox of Mason, Illinois and Rita Jo Ann Boone (husband Tim) of Mason, Illinois; 18 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; 6 great great-grandchildren; 4 step grandchildren; 6 step great-grandchildren; 7 step great great- grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Nellie Hays; husband, Delmar E. Higgs; two brother, Hugh Hays and Guy Hays; 6 sisters, Ellen Demoris, Edith Bahrns, Annabel Spears, Eunice Budde, Clementine “Clemie” Budde and Lorretta Maxine Curry; son-in-law, David Cox; granddaughter, Laura Ann Boone; great-grandsons, Joshua Underwood and Patrick Schumacher; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

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