Ronald Lamar Higbee

Ronald Lamar Higbee, 90, of Norman, OK, passed away on November 18, 2023, after a long and blessed life.

Ron, the youngest of ten children, was born on September 4, 1933, to Arthur G. and Christena (Friend) Higbee in Lexington, Oklahoma. Ron grew up working on the Higbee family farm where he learned the value of hard work and the importance of family. In 1951, Ron graduated from Noble High School and became the last man in Cleveland County to be drafted into the United States Army.

On September 5, 1952, Ron married his highschool sweetheart, Carolyn Sue (Harding) Higbee, in the Noble United Methodist Church. They began their married life in the U.S. Army, living in Camp Polk, Louisiana, and Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. Following his discharge from the Army, Ron and Sue moved back to Noble and went into the grocery business. Following the birth of their two children, Ron and Sue moved the family to Norman where they settled for their remaining years. Ron spent 30 years of his professional life as the top salesman for William E. Davis, later becoming U.S. Food Service, and in 1986 was Distributor Sales Representative of the Year. Ron was dedicated and hardworking, found great fulfillment in his career, and made many friends along the way.

More than anything, Ron was a loving husband, proud father, grandfather, and friend.  He was lovingly called “Papaw Ron” by those close to him, and was known for his humor and clever one-liners, sound advice, and quiet strength. Ron took great pride in his yard and enjoyed gardening and tending to his Hibiscus plants in his retirement years. Ron was an avid fan of all sports, especially University of Oklahoma Football and Basketball, and was a prolific golfer, spending countless days on the course well into his eighties. Ron was a member of the Citizens of Potawatomi Nation and was proud of his cultural heritage, taking his family to numerous reunions and Pow Wows.

He will be remembered for all the heart he shared with his friends and family. He truly loved each of them--and if you knew him, you knew it. He will be missed, dearly.

Ron was preceded in death by his wife, Carolyn Sue (Harding) Higbee; father, Arthur G. Higbee; mother, Christena (Friend) Higbee; ten brothers and sisters; daughter, Rhonda Sue (Higbee) Brown, and grandson, Blake Edward Baldwin.

Ron is survived by his son, Ronald Scott Higbee and daughter-in-law, Debra Higbee, of Dallas, TX; grandchildren, Thomas Sturdivant IV of Norman, OK, Cori (Higbee) DeLay and husband, Dallas DeLay of Richardson, TX; great-grandchildren, Devin DeLay and Dylan DeLay of Richardson, TX, and many nieces and nephews.