L. Maurice Huggins
October 23, 1939 - September 18, 2012
Obituary
L. Maurice Huggins passed away September 18, 2012, after a courageous 4 year battle with kidney cancer. He went peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by his family.
Some of his many accomplishments included earning his B.S. and M.S. at Western Washington University and his Ph.D. in education at the University of Idaho. While attending the Univ. of Idaho, he was involved in paleobotanical research that led to the discovery of a new genus of plant—the first genus to be discovered in 200 years. In addition, he published articles in four prestigious scientific journals and was listed in the Who’s Who in American Botany.
Because education was so important to him, he became a teacher. He taught in the Duvall, Lake Washington, and Federal Way School Districts. In Federal Way he was principal at Lakeland, Valhalla, and Adelaide elementary schools. He also was an Associate Professor of Education at Whitworth College in Spokane.
He is survived by his wife, Sandy, his daughter, Leslie Sanford, and her husband, Andrew of New Mexico, his sister, Wava Masterson, brothers-in-law, Joe Masterson and Tom McGilchrist, nieces, Michelle Masterson and Morgan Moore, and nephew, Mike Masterson. He will be dearly missed by family and friends alike.
Services will be at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Federal Way on September 27. Rosary will be said at 10:00 A.M. and the service will begin at 11:00 A.M. A luncheon reception will follow in the church parish hall.
Memorials may be given to kidney cancer research. www.kidneycancer.org
Sandy and Leslie, I am so sorry for your loss. Take comfort in knowing he is.no longer suffering, and you will be together again. Hold on to the many memories y’all have as a family. Will keep y’all in my prayers.
Dear Sandy and Leslie,
I am so very sorry for the loss of your husband and father!
He truly was an amazing man and I know you have wonderful memories of life with him. He will be missed!
Love, sympathy and prayers,
Suzanne
Dear Huggins Family,
I was very saddened to hear the news of your dear one’s passing. Maurice hired me to teach at Valhalla in 1988. I enjoyed working with him very much. He encouraged me in furthering my education and challenging myself in my career. I will always carry fond memories of Maurice with me.
God bless and keep you,
Sheryl Pond
It was a pleasure knowing you Maurice at the Federal Way School Dist. and seeing you at mass on Saturdays.
You will be missed in the Federal Way school community.
My thoughts and prayers for your family at this time of sorrow.
I had the pleasure of being hired for my first teaching job in Federal Way, by Maurice. I remember his intelligence, compassion and sense of humor, and feel privileged to have known him.
Dear Sandy & Leslie & Andrew & family,
Maurice was my boss, mentor & and I’m proud to say friend.
His sense of humor and unique intelligent take on the world will provide many fond memories. I’m so sorry for your loss.
With sympathy,
Teresa Casey & Family
Sandy,
So very sorry to hear of your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
I am saddened by the passing of Maurice. He was (is) my best friend, having been lab partners at Western in the late 50’s. Our experiences were varied and numerous over the past many years.
I was privileged to have Maurice as my principal at Valhalla for 5 years. Science ruled!
Your suffering is finally over….A better place has been prepared for you.
Art
Sandy, Leslie and Andrew,
As you know, Maurice was one of a kind. My best memories are when he subbed in our kindergarten class. He loved sharing his antlers and anything science with the kids.
I hope you will all find comfort from all the memories and knowing how much Maurice meant to so many people.
Debbie
Dear Sandy and Leslie,
I am so sorry for your loss of husband and father. Maurice
will be remembered for his passion for science, and his contributions to Federal Way School Dist. And I remember how he came to check on me every hour, the day I substituted at Lakeland. The 2 previous subs had been “eaten alive” and he made sure I was still standing, which I greatly appreciated.
Peace be with you,
Joan
We miss him. Nothing else to say.
Sandy, Leslie, and Andrew,
We love you.
Dear Sandy and Leslie,
We are so sorry for your loss. We want you to know that you are in our throughts and prayers. We are thinking of you.
Take Care,
The Wood Family
I’m so sorry for your loss- Maurice will be terribly missed. You are in my thoughts.
Dear Sandy, You and Leslie are in my thoughts now, I’m truly sorry for your loss.
Dear Sandy and Leslie,
You don’t know me but I am just one of the many people whose lives were impacted by Maurice. I met him when I was a student in the Master’s Program at Whitworth University in the early 80s. We later became personal friends and he was an amazing mentor and role model for my daughter, who remembers him to this day. He was so talented, so bright, and yet had a sense of humor and presence that could light up a room. He heart goes out to you in this time of grief. God bless Maurice and God bless his family.