Lee was born at Letterman General Hospital in San Francisco on November 3, 1939 to Kenneth Sayre and Iona Rae (Paul) Wade while her father was stationed at Hamilton Field as a young pilot in the Army Air Corps. She graduated from San Diego High School, Class of `57 and married Richard “Dick” Armstrong Higgins in 1958 and had two children.
Lee became an owner of Automation General, Inc. in 1970, where she was the primary financial official for 40 years.
Always engaging in interests to explore, Lee enjoyed sports and played in many softball and bowling leagues throughout her adult years. Other interests included playing the organ, as her father did, and learning American Sign Language and German. She was also a “Car Guy,” attending the Car Show each year when it came to San Diego. Her collection of pre-WWII era model cars was something to behold!
Leadership and being of service are themes of her life. Lee was a Job’s Daughter in her teens and was initiated into the Order of the Eastern Star, Harbor Lights Chapter, joining her mother, Iona, and grandmother, Vida Rae Paul. Lee earned her 50-year member of the Order and was Worthy Matron of Harbor Lights in 2017. Lee was also a member of Toastmasters, delivering many lively speeches and holding many officer positions as part of the PredOrators club and was Area 8 Director as of her passing.
Lee will be remembered for being a presence within the multitude of communities in which she actively participated.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Diana and Paul Hagerty, of Carlsbad, CA, grandsons Kevin and Kyle Hagerty, and great-granddaughter, Peyton Hagerty. She is preceded in death by her son, Richard Alfred Higgins and sister, Bonnie Kay Nickeson.
A memorial service is scheduled for 10:00 am on Tuesday, June 22nd, 2021 with reception immediately following at 11:00 am. A committal will occur Tuesday, June 22nd, 2021 from 12:00 PM to 12:15 PM. All events will be held at El Camino Memorial – Sorrento Valley 5600 Carroll Canyon Rd, San Diego, CA 92121.
For those who are unable to attend, there the service will be livestreamed. The link is available on this website by scrolling down to the Memorial Service and clicking on “JOIN LIVESTREAM”.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.sorrentovalleychapel.com for the family.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18