Doris Jean Higgins, 74, of Mount Vernon, Illinois, gained her wings on Monday, December 26, 2022, at 2:25 am at Deaconess Gateway Hospital in Newburgh, Indiana with her family by her side.
Doris was born August 13, 1948, in Hickman, Kentucky to the late Ethel Foulks and Jessie”Bill” McElrath. She attended school in Hickman, Kentucky, then later in life she explored and lived in different cities and states, but decided to make a life in Mount Vernon, Illinois, where she became a certified medical assistant and worked in healthcare for 35 years.
She was a loving daughter, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend. She enjoyed being with her family and making everyone laugh, and most of all loved being around her grandchildren. Her beautiful life will forever be cherished in the lives of her children: Debbie Kay Parks of Mount Vernon, Crystal (Eric) Merced of Toledo, Ohio, and Dameron Rollins of Mount Vernon; sisters, Maudie (Dwight) Gamble of Carbondale, Illinois, Martha Foulks of Owensboro, Kentucky, Linda McElrath-Dodson of Union City, Tennessee, and Rosland McElrath of Tiptonville, Tennessee; brothers, Jessie Foulks of Mount Vernon, Gary Sanders of Mount Vernon, Joe (Rasheeda) Sanders of Carbondale, Willie Cross of Hickman, Kentucky, James Foulks of West Virginia, Richard McElrath of Rockford, Illinois, Jeff McElrath, and Tommy McElrath; ten grandchildren; and a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Doris was preceded in death by her parents; maternal and paternal grandparents; son, Tyron Foulks; and siblings, Corene Foulks, Ethel Faye Goosby, Betty Foulks, Ada Foulks, Regina “Kay” McElrath, Kevin Dale Foulks, Raymond “Chico” Foulks, Richard Foulks, John Foulks, Evan McElrath, James Steve McElrath, and Jessie McElrath, Jr.
A Visitation will be held Saturday, January 14, 2023, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at Newell Funeral Home in Mount Vernon. A Funeral Service will begin at 11:00 am with Pastor Betty Gradford officiating. Interment will follow at Mount Vernon Memorial Gardens in Woodlawn, Illinois. Call Newell Funeral Home at 618-246-0100 or visit newellfuneralhome.com for further information.
