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MARY RISING Love and Respect for Mary Rising Higgins, innovative poet and former public school teacher, born February 29, 1944 and passed away Sunday, August 26, 2007, from complications of breast cancer. She taught 25 years in Albuquerque Public Schools, becoming a master teacher in 1993. After retiring from teaching in 1995, she focused on a second career as a poet. In less than a decade she published six books of poems. Family, friends, and poets are grieving the loss of Mary Rising Higgins, who was well loved and respected by all who knew her. Her daughter and granddaughters found her gentle, generous, and loving. She also influenced many twenty-first century poets, who found her work adventuresome and innovative. Universities across the United States are currently using her publications in teaching their classes: University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, University of Indiana in Fort Wayne, Columbia University in New York City, and California College of the Arts in San Francisco. Mary Rising was born in Minnesota, the fourth child of Lucille Grace and Forrest Raymond Rising. She attended Napa College in California. Mary earned both a B.S. degree in 1970 and an M.A. in English (with distinction) in 1988 at the University of New Mexico. She married Joe Frank Higgins in 1964. Mary is survived by her daughter, Heidi Higgins Armijo; two granddaughters, Felicia Madeline Higgins Chavez and Jesslyn Grace Armijo, both of Albuquerque; and two brothers, Robert Rising and Ronald Rising, both of Minnesota. A Celebration of Life and Poetry, will take place at Mary's home on Saturday afternoon, September 8, 2007. A reunion and remembrance of Mary's beautiful voice has been planned by the Napa High School/ Junior College Choir, to take place later in the fall of 2007. French Mortuary, Inc. 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE (505) 823-9400
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