Charlotte Lee "Charii" Higgins

Charlotte “Charii” Higgins (83) passed away peacefully in her sleep, entering a better, pain-free place. Fierce, funny, and deeply devoted to those she loved, Charii was a devoted wife, loving mother, loyal friend, and a passionate advocate for veterans. She was born to William and Ophelia Arrighi and spent her early years creating art, playing the flute, and—by all accounts—getting into a fair amount of mischief. (Family legend recalls her once racing a police officer to avoid a speeding ticket—and winning—and another time somehow “walking away” with another officer’s badge. After attending college briefly, Charii joined the USO and moved to Washington, D.C., where she met the love of her life, 2nd Lt. Larry F. Higgins. The two married, and together they raised two sons: Larry John and Damon. Following Larry’s retirement from the Army, the family settled in Spokane, WA, where Charii managed Marybee Needle Craft. They later moved to the Palouse region (Colton, Colfax, and Moscow), and Charii began working at Washington State University—first in Parking Services, then at KWSU. She eventually became the Veterans Affairs Coordinator for WSU’s Department of Veterans and Military-Affiliated Student Services. Her proudest accomplishment was leading the expansion and rededication of the WSU Veterans Memorial in the early 2000s—a project that meant the world to her. In retirement, Charii enjoyed traveling with Larry, snowbirding in Arizona, and spending precious time with her son Damon, daughter-in-law Kerena, and beloved grandchildren, Connor and Abigail, in the Bellingham area. In 2012, Charii lost her husband of 53 years to cancer. Despite her grief, she carried on with resilience—selling and buying a home on her own, beating cancer herself, managing diabetes, and enduring more than three years of dialysis. She passed on her own terms, with strength and dignity, as she lived her life. Charii is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, William and Sandy Arrighi (Santa Fe, NM); her son and daughter-in-law, Damon and Kerena Higgins (Ferndale, WA); and her grandchildren, Abigail and Connor. She was preceded in death by her husband, Larry, and her son, Larry John. She will be deeply missed by her family, friends, colleagues, and all who were fortunate enough to know and love her. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the American Red Cross. A celebration of life will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Moscow, ID on Saturday, September 13 at 11:30 am with a rosary at 11:00 am.

Charlotte Lee "Charii" Higgins

September 10, 1941 - July 21, 2025