Roger F. Higbee

Roger Frederic Higbee was born February 18, 1956, in Seattle. He passed away on March 6, 2017, after a long struggle with diabetes. He was the son of Jay and Vada Higbee. Roger graduated from Nathan Hale High School, where he played drums in the marching band and developed a love for radio at KNHC-FM. From 1974 to 1980 Roger served his country in the United States Coast Guard, most of that time on Lake Erie in Marblehead, Ohio. He rose to Petty Officer. Living in nearby Sandusky, Roger met and shared and apartment with Fred, forming a deep, lasting friendship. In 1980 Roger returned to Seattle, ultimately buying a house in Brier. He dearly loved that house. He pursued a degree in communications at Bellevue Community College, continuing his interest in radio as a DJ for the college station KBCS-FM, which also initiated in him an interest in jazz music. Roger's on-air personality was very professional and very much enjoyed by his listeners. Roger went on to be a commended bus operator for Metro Transit, a job he called "the happiest time of my life," retiring in 2014. He had a thorough memory for just about every route in the Metro system. He was also active in the Amalgama...[more]

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Transit Union Local 587, including serving a term as a shop steward. Roger was justifiably very proud of his work for Metro and his work with the union. Over the years, Roger indulged many interests. As a young teenager he played ice hockey and enjoyed skiing; as an adult he continued to ski, particularly enjoying the slopes at Whistler; he also dabbled in photography (for which he had a very good eye), videography, and, in particular, crab fishing with his friend Fred, which they did almost every year off the Oregon Coast. Roger is survived by his mother, Vada, his sisters Ellyn Roe (Steve) and Marsha Kallander (Kirk), and brother Scott; his nephew Jason Roe and nieces Lisa Martinez, Stacy Cannon and Jessica Kallander. Roger absolutely loved his nephew and nieces and adored his great nieces Naya and Jocellyn; in the week before he passed he got to meet his recently arrived great niece, Elleri, loving her instantly. We will miss Roger's love for us, and his caring and generous spirit, as well as a wonderful, full-throated laugh that could fill the largest of rooms and bring a smile to all around. Roger loved to laugh! Roger's family expresses its deepest affection and gratitude to Roger's friends Fred of Toledo, Ohio, Stan of Lynnwood, Washington, and Kathy of Nooksack, Washington. Roger was tremendously fond of all you and we have been blessed by the friendship and care you have shown him. Roger and his family have also been very blessed by the assistance he has received over the years from Visiting Angels, especially Aly and Melinda, who formed great working partnerships with Roger. The family suggests that any memorial gift-giving be for the continuing education of Roger's extraordinary professional caregiver, Aly. Non-deductibal donations should be mailed to: Visiting Angels Everett, 2532 Wetmore Ave., Everett, WA 98201. Memo line: Aly Scholarship. Please mark your envelope ATTN: Loni Memorial service will be held on Monday, April 17, 2017 at 11:00am at Lux Maple Leaf (Formerly Maple Leaf Evangelical Church), 1059 NE 96th St, Seattle, WA 98115. Words of comfort may be expressed for Roger's family by clicking on the Tributes tab just below their name.