April 30, 1945 - May 12, 2013

Will Forever be Missed

Mildred Katherine Higgins-Mashburn, 68, was reunited with God on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 12, 2013 at Providence Medical Center in Everett, Washington. She was holding hands with her husband and daughter as she took her last breath at 9:37 a.m. Millie battled a sudden and unexpected cancer diagnosis courageously for four weeks, never once giving up hope for herself and her family. Her determination and strength inspires us to live as she did. Giving to others before oneself. 

Millie was born on April 30, 1945 to Ford James and Margaret Audrey Higgins in Auburn, Washington. She graduated from Federal Way High School in 1963 where she served as a cheerleader, drill team captain, Pep Club Secretary, student council and class officer and voted Most Dependable by her graduating class. After high school, she graduated from Sacred Heart Nursing School, Edmonds Community College and the University of Washington.
Millie and her husband John owned Mike's Shoe Repair, an Everett landmark, for many years during their early years of marriage. They sold their business in the late 1970's and returned to college to complete their Dental and Accounting degrees, while raising their two children. Millie and John raised their family at Saint Mary Magdalen Parish. She served as a PTA volunteer and room mother at Madison Elementary, Evergreen Middle School and Everett High School during her children's years in the Everett School District. She was a Washington State PTA Golden Acorn Award winner for outstanding service and VOA Care Crisis Line volunteer. After receiving her degree at Edmonds Community College, Millie spent several years managing a dental practice before joining the University of Washington Dental School as ADP Clinical Director in 1984. She retired from the UW Dental School in 1994 to start a new adventure as Grandmother to her only Grandson. Prior to retirement, Millie and John incorporated their own business, Everett Bookkeeping and Property Management Service, where she worked through the final days of her illness. Above and beyond the business they developed, Millie had an incredible passion for gardening, cross-stitching and quilting. She and John shared a special love for the music of Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra.

Millie is irreplaceable. She was truly a gift to this World and will forever be missed. Her selflessness and giving to her family and friends will live on in the hearts of all. Millie lit up any room she walked into with her personality and smile and the void of her presence will be a heartache and incredible loss to many, especially to her husband, high school sweetheart and best friend John Mashburn. Millie was preceded in death by her father, Ford Higgins; her mother, Margaret Higgins; sister Julia Higgins Zitzer; brother George Higgins; father-in-law Robert Mashburn and mother-in-law Doris Mashburn. She is now in the loving embrace of her parents, sister and brother.

Millie is survived by her husband of 50 years, John Mashburn; her son, Robert Mashburn (Kerstin); her daughter, Dori Mashburn and grandson, Bryant Michael Sutton; aunt Gina Higgins; cousin Susan Higgins-Musial (Dennis); cousin Kathleen McMahon (Bill); sister in law, Kay Amberg (Steve); sister in law Cassie Higgins; sister-in law Lila Raabe (John); sister-in-law Rachel Qualey; brother in law Tom Zitzer; brother-in-law Ron Mashburn (Sally); brother Fred (Trish) Higgins; nieces and nephews Amy Zitzer-Hodge (Matt); Paula (Eric) Carazo; Steve Higgins (Michele); Jenny Overstreet (Bruce); Jessica Qualey; John Qualey; Godparents Ray and Tina Milner; and her lifetime friends Colleen Gammon, Carolyn Clough, Nona Scharff and Sharon Capovilla. Millie and John's lifetime friends Terri and Pat Negrete, Monica Espinoza, Vickie Myron, Sandra Alder, Peter Harvey, Glenn Griffin, Loren Donohue, Jeff Ferwerda, Elinor Siep, Bernie and Marlee Nelson, Kirk and Nancy Gilbertson, and Hector and Reyna Camano were especially comforting during the most difficult days.
The Mashburn family would like to give thanks to the doctors, nurses and therapists of Providence Medical Center, 7th Floor, Oncology A-Wing, for their extraordinary compassion and caring in the last days of Millie's life. These wonderful people made an unbearable event easier for her family to bear.

Frank Sinatra - Somewhere Beyond the Sea

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Funeral Information

To celebrate her life, a graveside memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 8 at 2:00 pm, Saint Mary's Parish Cemetery, 4200 88th St NE, Marysville, WA. It was her wish to be buried next to her parents.

Donations

In lieu of flowers, Millie requested donations be made to the Archbishop Thomas J. Murphy High School - Tuition Assistance Program, Union Gospel Mission or the American Cancer Society.

Memorial

A Good Life

When we are gone, and people weep
for us and grieve, let it be because we
touched their lives with beauty and simplicity.
Let it not be said that life was good to us,
but, rather, we were good to life

Jacob P. Rubin

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on Earth, as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Matthew 6:9-13