Fred Lloyd Higginbotham, Sr., 90, of Westfield passed peacefully into the arms of his Heavenly Father on Saturday, June 20, 2026, just shy of his 91st birthday.
Fred, also known as "Sonny," was born on August 11, 1935 in Akron, OH, the son of Fred Higginbotham and Bessie Mae Sholley Higginbotham. He was a graduate of Sherman Central School. He proudly served his country in the United States Air Force from 1956-1960, stationed in Texas and later at Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, GA.
It was while he was stationed in Texas that Fred met his bride, Beverly Ann Brooks, on a blind date in New Orleans, LA. Theirs became a courtship of devotion and determination -- Fred would walk all the way from Texas to New Orleans, still in his uniform, just to see her. Each time, he would ask her, "How much do you love me?" and her answer, always and forever, was "Two cents." Fred and Beverly were married on November 15, 1958 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Algiers, LA beginning a marriage that would last more than 64 years. Their courtship's playful refrain became so woven into who they were that, decades later, the legal name of the family business they built together was registered as "2¢, Inc."
After their marriage, the couple relocated to Georgia, where Fred continued his Air Force service in 1959. Fred and Beverly went on to raise their family of three children -- Debra Kaye, Fred Lloyd, Jr. and Terry Lee -- first in the Gretna, LA area and later in Westfield in Chautauqua County, where they settled permanently in 1976 in the most beautiful home on Chestnut Street overlooking the Chautauqua Gorge.
Fred was a certified welder and served as a welding foreman for the Boeing Company, where his skill and discipline contributed to one of humankind's greatest achievements -- the Apollo program that carried astronauts to the moon and safely home again. Fred’s name and contribution are preserved for generations on the Apollo/Saturn V Roll of Honor.
At age 36, Fred suffered a serious injury that left him in chronic pain. He made the decision to pursue a new path forward, attending Jamestown Community College to retrain. In 1979, Fred and Beverly became owner-operators of a ServiceMaster Clean cleaning and disaster restoration franchise, building it over more than four decades into ServiceMaster by Higginbotham's -- known throughout Chautauqua County, NY and Erie County, PA as "the cleaning people who care." Fred led his team the way he led his life: with discipline, integrity, and quiet generosity. He took to heart ServiceMaster's founding principles -- to honor God in all things, to help people develop, to pursue excellence, and to grow profitably -- and lived them by example, finding in the company's very name an expression of his own lifelong devotion to serving his Master, the Lord. Thank You to the many dedicated ServiceMaster service partners who became like family to him over more than 47 years.
Since 1976, Fred and Beverly were active members of Westfield First Baptist Church, where Fred served for many years as Head Trustee, faithfully tending to the church grounds and building as if it were his own home.
Fred found joy in life's simple pleasures. He loved his dachshunds over the years -- Max, Noah, Obadiah, Rusty and Mr. Wiggles -- and delighted in feeding the birds, and really any wildlife, that visited the beautiful yard he and Beverly tended together. He could often be found mowing the lawn on his John Deere, or tending the flowers, plants, and the fountain pond along "Honey-Do Lane," the path he kept leading down to their access on the Chautauqua Gorge. He made his own sun tea, drank his lemonade and iced tea heavy on the ice (never any lemon in his iced tea, thank you very much), and started his mornings with a cup of Luzianne chicory coffee. In their younger years, Fred and Beverly loved to travel and explore the country together, visiting every state except Alaska and Hawaii. And anyone who knew Fred well knew about his love of Tootsie Pops -- red ones, specifically; he'd keep one going to stay awake on long drives, and in later years his family took to ordering bags of nothing but red Tootsie Pops, since every other color was destined to be left behind in the candy bowl. A frozen nutty butter cookie never hurt, either.
Fred lived an abundant and wonderfully blessed life — a life that, like anyone's, weathered its share of storms, but through every one of them, God never left his boat. Fred would want his family and all who loved him to hold fast to their faith, trust in the Lord, and know that God is good -- that those who serve Him will know abundant blessing, and that He will lead, guide, protect, and give peace all the days of our lives.
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His steadfast love endures forever." -- Psalm 107:1
Fred was preceded in death by his cherished bride of 64 years, Beverly Ann Brooks Higginbotham (2023); and his sister, Ethel Dragon Rich. He is survived by his three children, Deb (Carrie), Fred (Ivelisse) and Terry (Jeffrey), all of Westfield; sisters, Norma Lyon and Bessie Endress; grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Ivan L. Torres of Florida (children Giovanni and Francisco), Gregory M. Torres (Jill) of Ohio (children Kit and Tinno), Fred L. Higginbotham III (Lynette) of Ohio (children Madison, Fred IV, Charlotte, and Will), Cassidy B. Markham (Kyle) of New York (children Milyn, Parker, Vida and Miles), Nichole L. Freeman of Pennsylvania and Bradley M. Freeman of Ohio (children Walker and Clara).
Fred was profoundly grateful for the devoted caregivers the family came to know as "Fred's Team." Each one brought her or his own personality, talents, and heart into Fred's daily world, offering him gracious care and steady companionship. The family is deeply thankful for their goodness, and asks the Lord to bless each of them for the strength, faith, and friendship they shared with Fred along the way -- to let them walk in gladness for the care they gave, and to protect them spiritually, physically, and emotionally in all they say and do. Well done, Team Fred.
The funeral will be held on Friday, July 10 at 11:00 AM on Friday, July 10 at the Freay Funeral Home, 139 South Erie Street in Mayville, where one hour of visitation will be held before the funeral service. The Rev. Matt Wolfe will officiate. Burial will be in Westfield Cemetery.
Memorial donations can be made to the Westfield Respite at the Westfield United Methodist Church, 101 Main Street, Westfield, NY 14787; Northern Chautauqua Canine Rescue, 7540 North Gale Street, Westfield, NY 14787; or the First Baptist Church of Westfield, 19 Union Street, Westfield, NY 14787.
