Home / News & Publications / Michigan Catholic News / 2010 / Fr. Higdon was a 'very devoted servant of the Lord'
Fr. Higdon was a 'very devoted servant of the Lord'
by Kristin Lukowski of The Michigan Catholic
Published February 26, 2010
DETROIT — Even at the end of his life, Fr. C. Paul Higdon still celebrated Mass when he could, ministered to others, and even sent e-mails to keep in touch with his extended family.
Fr. Higdon died Saturday. He was 90.
Roger Thomas, a family friend who got to know Fr. Higdon when he helped at St. Mary Parish, Port Huron, in his retirement, said Fr. Higdon was a quiet leader who "helped people grow in the knowledge of Christ."
Thomas remembered one instance when a friend passed away, and he called Fr. Higdon, who had already gotten ready for bed, to ask him to pray for the friend and her family. Instead, Fr. Higdon got dressed, got in his car and headed back to the hospital — and this was after he'd been retired for many years.
"He took his responsibilities that seriously," Thomas said. "No matter when the call came, he would respond to the best of his ability. He was that devoted and that dedicated."
He only stopped celebrating Mass at his assisted living facility in the last couple of weeks, Thomas said. "Any way he could minister to whoever he could reach, he would do that," he said. "He was a very devoted servant of the Lord."
Diane Shoemaker, a niece in town from Texas for the funeral, spent Fr. Higdon's last hours with him.
She said although he was one of seven kids, he kept in touch with all of them as they moved away, and even kept in touch with all 19 of his nieces and nephews.
"Family was extremely important to him," his niece said. "He never forgot a birthday, ever. He was a very loving, caring uncle."
Shoemaker said the family could count on him to be there any time they needed him, spiritually or over the phone if he couldn't be there in person.
Although he was a private person, he was still caring and nurturing, she said, and even celebrated weddings and other events for family when he could.
"I remember he was a very devoted priest," Shoemaker said.
Thomas said some of Fr. Higdon's hobbies included reading, especially spy and detective stories, and classical music. He had an array of VHS tapes of various concerts, Thomas said, that he'd watch over and over again. He also loved M&Ms candy and a good cup of coffee — "but it had to be decaf or he'd be up all night," Thomas said.
Colman Paul Higdon was born on May 17, 1919, in Detroit and was ordained a priest on May 31, 1946, at Holy Family Theologate in Oldenburg, Ind. He was incardinated into the Archdiocese of Detroit on Nov. 6, 1973.
He served as an associate pastor at Guardian Angels Parish, Detroit; St. Raymond Parish, Detroit; St. Edward on the Lake Parish, Lakeport; St. Nicholas Parish, Capac; St. Joseph Parish, Port Huron; St. Gertrude Parish, St. Clair Shores; and St. William Parish, Walled Lake. He also served as chaplain at Mercy Hospital, Port Huron Hospital, and Marywood Manor, all in Port Huron. He became a senior priest of the archdiocese in 1991.
Funeral Mass was Thursday at St. Mary Parish, Port Huron, with burial following at Mount Hope Cemetery, Port Huron.
Fr. Higdon is survived by his sister, Marilou Pyatt, sister-in-law Sandy Higdon, and several nieces and nephews.
Condolences may be sent to Roger Thomas, 4348 Pine Grove Ave., Fort Gratiot 48059.
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