Donald "Don" Higbee

Donald Floyd Higbee

A celebration of life for longtime Lamar resident, Donald Floyd Higbee will be held at 1:00PM on Tuesday, October 11, 2022 at the Peacock Family Chapel with Ian Blacker of the Lamar Christian Church officiating. Interment will follow at the Fairmount Cemetery.

Visitation for Don will be held on Tuesday, October 11, 2022 from 10:00AM until 12:00PM at the Peacock Family Chapel.

Donald Floyd Higbee was born September 13th, 1953 in Scottsbluff, Nebraska to his parents, Farrell Higbee and Virginia (McMillian) Higbee. The family moved to Loveland, Colorado when Don was in 7th grade. Growing up in Loveland, Don is remembered in his youth as a protective older brother, who was popular and loved by all. 

After graduating Loveland High School, Don attended Colorado State University, where his parents also graduated, and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. Don always had an interest in people, their motivations, and how he could relate to them, which he was very good at doing. Don had a great circle of lifelong friends from across the country. Don was able to relate to everyone in a way that made them feel special. He genuinely appreciated the unique and varied personalities of all of his friends.  

Don had an interest in aviation and upon his graduation from college, Don’s parents bought him flying lessons. While Don loved to fly, he was drawn to agriculture. Don’s granddad on his mother’s side, Donald C. McMillian, and his farm east of Lamar, Colorado held a special place in Don’s heart. Originally homesteaded in 1876, Don always knew that he wanted to come back to Southeastern Colorado to farm with his granddad – even in his college days. Don spent many summers on the farm and returned to the farm shortly after graduation from CSU. For the better part of his life, he owned and operated a small red angus beef cattle herd on his grandad’s farm and grew forage crops to provide for his cattle operation. In the last few years, Don transitioned to more of a land ownership role, leasing out his pasture and farm ground.

After Don moved to the Lowe Place in Carlton, Colorado, he became an active member of the Southeastern Colorado community. Don’s initial involvement in water management began as a farmer. After the passing of his uncle, Mike Higbee, Don served as Mike had, as a board member for the Lamar Canal. Don quietly listened and learned the concerns and intricacies of water management and that is where his passion for water took hold. Mike also played a big role in getting Don involved in Colorado Division of Wildlife (now Colorado Parks and Wildlife), ranging from sponsoring youth hunting excursions to hunting outings on his grandad’s farm. Later in his career at LAWMA, Don played an important role in developing multiple water management projects with Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

Don served as the Secretary Treasurer for Lamar Canal, Granada Irrigation, and District 67. He also served on the City of Lamar Waterboard and as a director for the Fort Bent Canal Company. Ultimately, he served as the General Manager for the Lower Arkansas Water Management Association (LAWMA) and on the LAWMA board of directors. Don was also appointed by Governor Roy Romer to work on the Arkansas River Compact Protection Act of 1996.

During Don’s decades of involvement with LAWMA and the multitude of water boards, Don was instrumental in giving crucial testimony in the Kansas vs. Colorado lawsuit in front of the Special Master in the Federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Pasadena, California. Don’s testimony was integral in helping to resolve the long-standing water dispute between the states, and he was recognized by the State of Colorado for his heavy involvement.

Don was eternally enthusiastic and optimistic. He was great at sharing that enthusiasm in a captivating way, whether it was water, agriculture, books, sports, aviation, or current events. Don was an avid reader, reading a minimum of three books a week and he always had something interesting to share. 

Don raised three children whom he was very proud of. Don was a great dad who always encouraged his children to follow their own paths. He was a very grounding influence in all of their lives. No matter how far away they were, he would always drop everything to talk to them on the phone. Don always found a way to reassure and encourage his children, often without them realizing he had done so. One thing was certain, after a conversation with their dad, his children always felt reassured, motivated, and realigned.

Don is survived by his wife, Angela (DeLoach) Higbee of the family home in Lamar, children MacDonald Higbee of Houston, TX, Alexander Higbee of Manhattan, KS and Sage Higbee of Tucson, AZ, siblings Janet Higbee of Westminster, CO and Carol Higbee of Broomfield, CO, step-mother Grace Angst of Williamsburg, VA, brothers-in-law Mitch (Linda) DeLoach of Garden City, KS, Darren DeLoach and Keenan DeLoach of Lamar, CO, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other family, and a host of friends.

Don’s family would like to give many heartfelt thanks to the members of this community and many others who have reached out with their condolences in the last few days. If you are able to do so, please keep the children and Angie in your thoughts and prayers and reach out routinely. They will all really appreciate any stories and memories you have of Don.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Donald Higbee Memorial Fund to go towards continuing his children’s college education and/or charity of choice either direct or in care of the funeral home office.