William Ray Higgins age 69, known as "Ray" to his friends, born in Waldo, Florida, the son of one of the first Florida commercial cat fishermen, went to be with the Lord on August 10, 2014.
As a teen, Ray relocated to the Palm Beach County area where he went on to raise a family and founded Higgins Electric, a premier electrical contracting company in South Florida.
From the start, Ray was very involved with the electrical industry. He sat on many of the Governing boards of the IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union) being a member of Local # 323. He was one of the first electricians in Florida to obtain the designation of a Statewide Master Electrician. Ray continued his service to the industry and community by serving on the Palm Beach County Code Enforcement Advisory Board for many years. He first served as a member, and later as Chairman of the Counties Code Enforcement Advisory Board. Ray continued to serve on the Board until his untimely passing.
Ray was always a giver to the community, which he loved dearly. His philanthropic efforts are well known throughout the local area. For several years, Ray gave generously of his time and funds to the Fern house, a local drug rehabilitation facility located in West Palm Beach and had for years before his death served on its board of Directors. Ray also served for more than 30 years as President of the 100 Club of the Palm Beaches lnc. an organization dedicated to the families of all police officers and firemen killed in the line of duty. Working in conjunction with the West Palm Beach city council, Ray held numerous fishing tournaments on Clear Lake to raise tens of thousands of dollars for these families over several years. He worked tirelessly to promote the organization and through his efforts saw the financial support of the families extended long after the individual's death.
Ray was a Shriner and a member of the local Blue Lodge 366, where he served faithfully and held many offices both locally, statewide and nationally. He served on the Shriner's Hospital Board of Directors which assists injured youth in Florida. Ray was also a Mason and member of the Scottish Rite.
He was a noted cook at Shrine, Mason and political fund raiser for years. Ray used his great barbecue and fish frying skills to feed thousands over several years. He often funded these from his own pocket and donated the proceeds to the group or issue he felt strongly about.
Ray served for several years on the Board of Directors of the former Palm Beach Trap and Skeet Inc., a clay target shooting club located in Palm Beach County at several different locations through the late 1990's. Ray was a devoted shooter and an excellent fisherman.
He is survived by Kathleen, his loving wife of 36 years, sons Jesse Darrell (wife Molly, grandchildren Mathew and Natalie), William Ray II, (grandchildren Tyler, David & James), Jonathan Barak Fields, Richard David, and brothers Jake Wayne, Jackie Lane and sister Joanne Counterman. Ray was preceded in death by his brother George David, Sister Juanita Myers and daughter Shannan Larraine.
The burial will be held on Saturday, August 16, 2014 at Evergreen Cemetery located at 41 SE 21st Avenue, Gainesville, Florida
Published in Gainesville Sun, The (FL) - Wednesday, August 13, 2014
As a teen, Ray relocated to the Palm Beach County area where he went on to raise a family and founded Higgins Electric, a premier electrical contracting company in South Florida.
From the start, Ray was very involved with the electrical industry. He sat on many of the Governing boards of the IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union) being a member of Local # 323. He was one of the first electricians in Florida to obtain the designation of a Statewide Master Electrician. Ray continued his service to the industry and community by serving on the Palm Beach County Code Enforcement Advisory Board for many years. He first served as a member, and later as Chairman of the Counties Code Enforcement Advisory Board. Ray continued to serve on the Board until his untimely passing.
Ray was always a giver to the community, which he loved dearly. His philanthropic efforts are well known throughout the local area. For several years, Ray gave generously of his time and funds to the Fern house, a local drug rehabilitation facility located in West Palm Beach and had for years before his death served on its board of Directors. Ray also served for more than 30 years as President of the 100 Club of the Palm Beaches lnc. an organization dedicated to the families of all police officers and firemen killed in the line of duty. Working in conjunction with the West Palm Beach city council, Ray held numerous fishing tournaments on Clear Lake to raise tens of thousands of dollars for these families over several years. He worked tirelessly to promote the organization and through his efforts saw the financial support of the families extended long after the individual's death.
Ray was a Shriner and a member of the local Blue Lodge 366, where he served faithfully and held many offices both locally, statewide and nationally. He served on the Shriner's Hospital Board of Directors which assists injured youth in Florida. Ray was also a Mason and member of the Scottish Rite.
He was a noted cook at Shrine, Mason and political fund raiser for years. Ray used his great barbecue and fish frying skills to feed thousands over several years. He often funded these from his own pocket and donated the proceeds to the group or issue he felt strongly about.
Ray served for several years on the Board of Directors of the former Palm Beach Trap and Skeet Inc., a clay target shooting club located in Palm Beach County at several different locations through the late 1990's. Ray was a devoted shooter and an excellent fisherman.
He is survived by Kathleen, his loving wife of 36 years, sons Jesse Darrell (wife Molly, grandchildren Mathew and Natalie), William Ray II, (grandchildren Tyler, David & James), Jonathan Barak Fields, Richard David, and brothers Jake Wayne, Jackie Lane and sister Joanne Counterman. Ray was preceded in death by his brother George David, Sister Juanita Myers and daughter Shannan Larraine.
The burial will be held on Saturday, August 16, 2014 at Evergreen Cemetery located at 41 SE 21st Avenue, Gainesville, Florida
Published in Gainesville Sun, The (FL) - Wednesday, August 13, 2014
William Ray Higgins age 69, known as "Ray" to his friends, born in Waldo, Florida, the son of one of the first Florida commercial cat fishermen, went to be with the Lord on August 10, 2014.
As a teen, Ray relocated to the Palm Beach County area where he went on to raise a family and founded Higgins Electric, a premier electrical contracting company in South Florida.
From the start, Ray was very involved with the electrical industry. He sat on many of the Governing boards of the IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union) being a member of Local # 323. He was one of the first electricians in Florida to obtain the designation of a Statewide Master Electrician. Ray continued his service to the industry and community by serving on the Palm Beach County Code Enforcement Advisory Board for many years. He first served as a member, and later as Chairman of the Counties Code Enforcement Advisory Board. Ray continued to serve on the Board until his untimely passing.
Ray was always a giver to the community, which he loved dearly. His philanthropic efforts are well known throughout the local area. For several years, Ray gave generously of his time and funds to the Fern house, a local drug rehabilitation facility located in West Palm Beach and had for years before his death served on its board of Directors. Ray also served for more than 30 years as President of the 100 Club of the Palm Beaches lnc. an organization dedicated to the families of all police officers and firemen killed in the line of duty. Working in conjunction with the West Palm Beach city council, Ray held numerous fishing tournaments on Clear Lake to raise tens of thousands of dollars for these families over several years. He worked tirelessly to promote the organization and through his efforts saw the financial support of the families extended long after the individual's death.
Ray was a Shriner and a member of the local Blue Lodge 366, where he served faithfully and held many offices both locally, statewide and nationally. He served on the Shriner's Hospital Board of Directors which assists injured youth in Florida. Ray was also a Mason and member of the Scottish Rite.
He was a noted cook at Shrine, Mason and political fund raiser for years. Ray used his great barbecue and fish frying skills to feed thousands over several years. He often funded these from his own pocket and donated the proceeds to the group or issue he felt strongly about.
Ray served for several years on the Board of Directors of the former Palm Beach Trap and Skeet Inc., a clay target shooting club located in Palm Beach County at several different locations through the late 1990's. Ray was a devoted shooter and an excellent fisherman.
He is survived by Kathleen, his loving wife of 36 years, sons Jesse Darrell (wife Molly, grandchildren Mathew and Natalie), William Ray II, (grandchildren Tyler, David & James), Jonathan Barak Fields, Richard David, and brothers Jake Wayne, Jackie Lane and sister Joanne Counterman. Ray was preceded in death by his brother George David, Sister Juanita Myers and daughter Shannan Larraine.
The burial will be held on Saturday, August 16, 2014 at Evergreen Cemetery located at 41 SE 21st Avenue, Gainesville, Florida
Published in Gainesville Sun, The (FL) - Wednesday, August 13, 2014
As a teen, Ray relocated to the Palm Beach County area where he went on to raise a family and founded Higgins Electric, a premier electrical contracting company in South Florida.
From the start, Ray was very involved with the electrical industry. He sat on many of the Governing boards of the IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union) being a member of Local # 323. He was one of the first electricians in Florida to obtain the designation of a Statewide Master Electrician. Ray continued his service to the industry and community by serving on the Palm Beach County Code Enforcement Advisory Board for many years. He first served as a member, and later as Chairman of the Counties Code Enforcement Advisory Board. Ray continued to serve on the Board until his untimely passing.
Ray was always a giver to the community, which he loved dearly. His philanthropic efforts are well known throughout the local area. For several years, Ray gave generously of his time and funds to the Fern house, a local drug rehabilitation facility located in West Palm Beach and had for years before his death served on its board of Directors. Ray also served for more than 30 years as President of the 100 Club of the Palm Beaches lnc. an organization dedicated to the families of all police officers and firemen killed in the line of duty. Working in conjunction with the West Palm Beach city council, Ray held numerous fishing tournaments on Clear Lake to raise tens of thousands of dollars for these families over several years. He worked tirelessly to promote the organization and through his efforts saw the financial support of the families extended long after the individual's death.
Ray was a Shriner and a member of the local Blue Lodge 366, where he served faithfully and held many offices both locally, statewide and nationally. He served on the Shriner's Hospital Board of Directors which assists injured youth in Florida. Ray was also a Mason and member of the Scottish Rite.
He was a noted cook at Shrine, Mason and political fund raiser for years. Ray used his great barbecue and fish frying skills to feed thousands over several years. He often funded these from his own pocket and donated the proceeds to the group or issue he felt strongly about.
Ray served for several years on the Board of Directors of the former Palm Beach Trap and Skeet Inc., a clay target shooting club located in Palm Beach County at several different locations through the late 1990's. Ray was a devoted shooter and an excellent fisherman.
He is survived by Kathleen, his loving wife of 36 years, sons Jesse Darrell (wife Molly, grandchildren Mathew and Natalie), William Ray II, (grandchildren Tyler, David & James), Jonathan Barak Fields, Richard David, and brothers Jake Wayne, Jackie Lane and sister Joanne Counterman. Ray was preceded in death by his brother George David, Sister Juanita Myers and daughter Shannan Larraine.
The burial will be held on Saturday, August 16, 2014 at Evergreen Cemetery located at 41 SE 21st Avenue, Gainesville, Florida
Published in Gainesville Sun, The (FL) - Wednesday, August 13, 2014
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