David Lee Higginson

October 3, 1943 - April 24, 2011

David Lee Higginson was born October 3, 1943 in Nampa, ID to John Detton Higginson and Merle Dean Harris Higginson. He was the fourth of 8 children. His older brothers were Dennis, Carol and Lynn. His younger siblings were Mike, Cheryl Carson, Tim and Tam Howell. At eight months old, David was taken with pneumonia. He was hospitalized and almost lost his life. It took years to fully recover. He contracted pneumonia and was hospitalized again at about the age of twelve. David had a musical gift. His mother’s history says it best: “With a true ear for music, he was soon playing by ear on the piano. His love for music took precedence very early. He became almost too involved in it at times. I remember how Dave hummed at the table (a no-no to be sure). We couldn’t seem to get him to quit”. At age four they attempted to enroll him in music lessons but were advised to bring him back when he knew the alphabet. Their little house on East Powerline Road was small for eight children. To make more room, David and his older brothers slept out in the barn year round. Electric blankets were a necessity during the winter months. He attended Lakeview Elementary School, Central or West Junior High School and Nampa Senior High School. His mother recalled, “Everything in school was a snap for him, and his teachers felt like he could be anything he made his mind to be. He graduated with honors”. He also attended Rick’s College in Idaho and Brigham Young University in Utah. He graduated from BYU in 1968 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. David and his brothers worked to pay their way through school. At twelve or thirteen, he set up pins at a bowling alley late into the night. At age 16 he, along with his brother Lynn, went to Washington during the pea harvest to work for the Green Giant Company. With no experience David obviously started out at the lowest level. This changed quickly as he was fast learner and hard worker. One day as they arrived at work, the management called for someone to run the Caterpillar equipment. Lynn, David’s older brother, spoke up immediately exclaiming, “David was born on a Cat”! This surprised David more than anyone. He got the job! His supervisor commented later that day as he saw David at work, that he really did have a knack for driving a Cat. David served in the New Zealand North Mission from 1962 to 1964. He loved the Maori people and especially the little children. He was finally able to return to New Zealand accompanied by his wife and additional family members just three years ago. Later in life, he and his dear wife fulfilled a one year mission at the Missionary Training Center and completed it just as he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. While attending BYU, David met and married his sweetheart, Ethel Louise Lewis. They were married for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple on June 2, 1967. Together they had nine children, David, Michael, Amy, Rebekah, Brian, Julie, Linda, Robert and Jared. David and Louise were a perfect match. They were one in purpose and in mind; a perfect example for their posterity. David taught choir and orchestra for years in Springville, Utah and also in Meridian and Boise, Idaho. He was beloved by his students. They described him as talented, funny, and as their favorite teacher. He understood each individual’s worth and they could feel it. At Springville Middle School, four out of every five students attending the school were in his choirs. While teaching Junior High choir in Idaho, his choirs were amazing; singing four-part harmony with precision that would be impressive even for a top high school choir. He played a major part in creating the orchestra program in the Meridian school district where some of his own children were privileged to be his students. Music was always a part of their home life. His wife, Louise loved music as well and was always his greatest support. His family’s favorite memories are singing around the piano as their father played. He passed on his musical love and gift to his children. David spent decades developing and teaching a system of playing the piano like professional musicians. He would teach kids from his choir to accompany the choir as they performed popular music of the day. People begged him to write down his methods of teaching for others to learn. He and his wife finally took a leap of faith. Through much sacrifice, they were able to realize that dream in 1992 when he developed David Higginson’s Professional Chord System. He spent the next 17 years teaching and sharing this gift around the country. His wife and family enjoyed traveling with him and taking part in the music seminars. He was a valiant member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He had a deep faith in his Savior, Jesus Christ and shared his love of Christ with his family and countless others. He would relate most everything to gospel principles. He was always teaching and counseling, often using his own inspired analogies. His words of advice will be cherished and deeply missed by his family and many others. His happiness was derived from service to others. His overall countenance was happy and witty. He was quick to find humor and lift people’s spirits in the face of challenges. When faced with his own challenge at the end, he never lost his faith or sense of humor. He brought comfort to us as we struggled with the thought of losing him. With the news of his diagnosis, he told us we cannot look at this as a tragedy because he was seeing his family surrounding him united in love and faith. He will be forever honored by his eternal companion, children, twenty-six grandchildren, and future posterity.