Lona "Lou" Waddell Wow, what a ride! On September 26, 2012, Lona Lou Waddell, a.k.a. "Lou," MOM!, and the Matriarch of the Higgins Family, passed away at age 90. Born near Rogersville, Alabama on December 21, 1921 she attended local schools there until joining the Navy Nurse Corp in World War II. She served in Portsmouth, Virginia helping injured soldiers and sailors throughout the war. She met and married Thomas Higgins, Sr., a soldier she met on a blind date. They had six children. Mom said "Go to school" so of the five surviving children, there are 11 college degrees including two doctorates. She survived a World War, two bouts with cancer and came through it all with class and style. In 2000 she was given an award by Blue Cross and Blue Shield as a Modern Day Hero in a ceremony at the Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix. Her family and friends meant everything to her and there are far, far too many friends to mention here. Doug, Dick, Butch, Karen and Vinny always considered her their "Second Mom," as she treated every friend as family. During any argument or stupid stunt, one of them would yell "I'm gonna tell our Mom!" Mom had the uncanny ability to make you think you were the most important person in the world when you spoke to her. All of her surviving children, Tom, Sue, Mike, Chris and Kevin are positive that each one was her favorite simply because that is how she made you feel and would tell everyone "I love you with all my heart." She leaves behind her children as well as dozens of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Tom, his son, Tom Higgins III (Jessica, children, Clayton, Camden and Caleb - born September 11, 2012), Tom's daughter, Maggie Schmidt (Matt) (Baby Annie due February 2013) and son, Jonathan (Kai); Susan (Valerie Averitt (Scott, children, Abby, MaKenna and Grayson) and Eve Marie); Mike (Avelina, children, Patrick (Jennifer), Kelita Carpenter (Chase) and Adan (Vivian and child Tempest); Chris (Kathy, children Luke and Danielle) and Kevin (Kay, children Sean and Erin and Kay's daughter and grandchildren, honorary Higgins'). Forever a mother, she always had time to help out a child with advice or a lesson from her past. She was, without a doubt and attested to by generations of people, the best cook and seamstress in the world. Fights were started over the chicken cacciatore and she would often hide trays of potato rolls from one of her sons who showed no shame in wolfing them down by the handful. A Memorial Service and Celebration of her life will be held on Sunday, September 30, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. at the Old Spanish Trail Church of Christ, 11795 Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, Arizona 85730. Please, no gifts or donations of any kind, just remember a good story about Mom. Arrangements by ADAIR FUNERAL HOMES, Dodge Chapel.