Mary Higby Obituary

Mary Elisabeth Higby, known to everyone as Betty Higby, died quietly at her home on the morning of the 13th of August 2009. She was ninety-four. Betty was a well established member of the Colorado Springs community for sixty-five years, living for many years in her Austin Bluffs home overlooking the city or out on the mesa near the Garden of the Gods--both favorite locations since she first visited the Springs with her parents during her Kansas City, Kansas childhood. She lived away from the Springs only briefly during her stay in Denver, Colorado as the Superintendent of the United States Mint. Betty Higby was a working director. She planed and coordinated all the activities of the Mint. The day she was sworn in she accepted responsibility for assets of 2.5 billion dollars. Besides American coins, the Denver Mint also worked under contract to make coins for such foreign countries as Taiwan, Panama, Liberia, Costa Rica and Mexico. As director Betty Higby received several superior performance awards from various Secretaries of the Treasury and was named "The Money Making Champ of the Year" when the Denver Mint broke the world's minting record by minting in one year over five billion coins. In 1974, Betty Higby was invited by CBS television to come to their New York studios to appear on TV's most famous panel show: " What's My Line." Higby was appointed to the Denver Mint position after years of working for the Republican Party. During one of many interviews she said: "In all the years in politics I never dreamed of being appointed to anything or asking for an appointment. I became interested in issues and candidates. I was active in politics almost daily since 1950." Higby served as Vice Chairman for the Republican Central Committee of Colorado, President of the Colorado Federation of Republican Women, member of the National Board of Republican Women and served as Co-chair of the successful John Love for Governor Campaign. In Colorado Springs, Betty Higby served as the Public Trustee for El Paso County, 1963-1969, and as Director of Grants and Endowments for the American Numismatic Association. She once told a reporter in jest, "You can't imagine anything I haven't volunteered for." When not "officially" working Betty Higby was always very involved in the Colorado Springs community as a volunteer. She served as President of the Women's Board of St. Francis Hospital, Co-chair of the Combined Federal United Way and Board Member of the Friends of the Colorado College Library. She was a faithful member of Grace Episcopal Church. Betty Higby was married to Don W. Higby who died in 1965. He was a prominent lawyer in Colorado Springs and, at one time, the District Attorney of El Paso County. She is survived by her son Wayne Higby an internationally renowned ceramic artist, her two grand children Austin Myles Higby and Sarah Higby Morabito as well as three great grand children, the three O'S: Olivia, Oscar and Owen Morabito. Those who knew Betty Higby well will remember her sense of humor, political savvy and professionalism, her gift for fashion, critical appreciation of an excellent taco and the joy she found in a good dance band.