Jolly Higman

Jolly had a long and full life. She was born on April 12, 1937, in Chicago, Illinois to two loving parents, Dr. Cornelius and Lois Hospers. Jolly had one younger brother, Corneilius (Skip). The family moved from Chicago to California after the passing of Jolly’s father.

Jolly met the love of her life, James (Jim) Higman, on the beach in Carmel. Jolly was a teacher at the time and Jim was stationed at Fort Ord as a First Lieutenant in the Army Corp of Engineers. She told us that she knew from the start that they would be married. Their wedding was on February 21, 1960. Jolly and Jim raised three children, Kevin, Keith, and Kim and being a mother was such a joy for Jolly. As a military wife, she created a loving home for the family especially during those times that Jim was deployed in overseas assignments.

Jolly and Jim frequently moved, often turning these transitions into cross-country camping adventures with the family. With a Volkswagen van, a Coleman stove, and a small tent, they created countless exciting memories along the way.

One of Jolly’s passions in life was caring for children. Her seven grandchildren filled her life with immense joy and happiness. Craft projects, visits to the library and parks, baking cookies and a lot of hugs were shared over the years. Jolly volunteered with several organizations supporting children and even provided foster care while she and Jim lived in West Virginia. She knew that when she passed, she was going to heaven to rock the babies.

Jolly and Jim’s boating journey began in California, where they spent countless weekends on the water. As founding members of the Mukilteo Yacht Club, they cherish the lifelong friendships they built over many years, both on and off the water.

Jolly is survived by her adoring husband, Jim, her three children, Kevin, Keith and Kim and her seven grandchildren. She will be remembered for her smile, her loving disposition, and her ability to make friends with anybody. She was a beautiful light in this world and will be missed dearly.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to ChildStrive (https://childstrive.org/about-us/), an organization that focuses on ensuring that all children can flourish.