Jimmy Don Higby, of Eudora, Kansas, was born in Pittsburg, KS, the son of Leonard William “Alfred Murphy” Higby and Ruby Marguerite McKinney. He married Grace Elizabeth Klimek, Linda Large, Georgia June King, Connie Prince, Betty Helen Daley, Carolyn M., and Frances Kay Pence. He was preceded in death by his half-sisters Joyce Ilene Seal “Higby,” Annette Marie “Murphy” (Blood), and both parents.

Mr. Higby served in the US Air Force in the 1950s and was third cousin to the distinguished John Cabell Breckinridge of Lexington, Kentucky. General Breckinridge, 14th Vice President of the United States for whom Breckenridge CO was named (changing "-in" to "-en" when he became a Confederate sympathizer), and his family produced a lot of famous people in the south.

Jim worked in hotel management, served on the Board of Directors for the Chamber of Commerce, and was on the Board of Commissioners at City Hall. A lifelong progressive, he was right at home in Lawrence, KS. He enjoyed debating politics and was an animal lover. His black poodle, Noki, went everywhere with him. Giving to a fault, he was a family man in the vein of his own father.

Survivors include a daughter Kimberly Antoniette Higby (Stark) of Girard, KS; sister Constance Jo Ann Higby (Dehart) of Cypress, TX; half-sisters, Susan Kay Henderson of Bettendorf, IA, and Marsha Louise Murphy (Merold) of Decatur, IL; grandchildren Sasha Renee Gartner (Randy Weber) of Leawood, KS, Melissa Jo Hillebert (John Manford) of Holden, MO, and Joseph Ward Hillebert III (Ming Zhen Yang) of Belton, MO; great-grandchildren Chino Layne Davis of Denver, CO; Sanoma Cheyenne Hillebert, Destiny Ann Elizabeth Manford, and Octavia Pearl Manford, of Holden, MO; Sarah Jade and Luna Hillebert of Belton, MO; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Chamber of Commerce (718 New Hampshire St, 66044), Douglas County Democratic Party (2104 West 25th St, 66047), https://kansasdems.org/donate/ or the Humane Society (1805 East 19th St, 66046) all are located in Lawrence, KS. http://lawrencehumane.org/don…