Obituary: Marlys Elaine Bacon

CALUMET – Marlys Elaine Bacon – age 74 – of Calumet, passed away peacefully in her home on the evening of February 19th, 2019. Marlys was born on August 20, 1944 in Washington D.C. to parents Lloyal and Elaine (Pearson) Bacon.  Their family arrived in the Copper Country when her father accepted a position as a professor (of Geophysics) at the Michigan Technological University. Marlys was raised in Hancock, and was a graduate of Hancock High School.

Marlys went on to complete a bachelor’s degree in English at Michigan State University. Soon thereafter, she lived in Africa (Cameroon) for two years while serving in the United States Peace Corps as a teacher. Upon returning to the States, Marlys eventually met and married her husband Wayne Higgins, with whom she had three children. Marlys and Wayne shared numerous interests including the arts, travel, and a love of books. After having met (working on a community theater production) in Michigan, they traveled through Europe together on the Orient Express. Shortly after their marriage in 1972 they moved to central Mexico with their children, where Marlys conducted graduate research on the indigenous languages of Oaxaca through the Linguistics department at the University of Texas in Austin.

Following her graduate studies in Texas and Mexico they moved their young family back to the Great Lakes region, and lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for a number of years prior to building a home together on the shore of Lake Superior, outside of Calumet. Marlys worked as a Spanish teacher for many years in both Milwaukee and in Calumet, greatly valuing both her work and her students. After her retirement from teaching, Marlys enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, visiting with favorite neighbors, taking walks and calling to the crows, tending to her gardens at home, attending local concerts and theatrical productions, and the monthly gathering of good friends in her local book club.

Marlys was preceded in death by her father Lloyal Bacon and her mother Elaine (Pearson) Bacon, by her husband Wayne Higgins, and by her brother Jim Bacon. She was also preceded by her brothers-in-law Tom Cavis and Richard Fulner.

She is survived by four of her siblings – Diane Cavis, Rick Bacon, Patricia Bacon, and Sherrill Fulner. She is also survived by her daughters Marena Higgins and Quincy Higgins Arney, by her son Greyling Higgins, by her step-son Troy Higgins, and by her five beloved grandchildren. In addition, she is survived by many dear nieces and nephews and by many other cherished extended family members and friends.

In accordance with her wishes, no immediate funeral services will be held. Friends and family are instead invited to attend a memorial gathering and celebration of her life, to be held at her home on the lakeshore, which is currently planned for later in the Spring near Memorial Day.

The family would like to express special thanks to the Portage Home Health Care team which provided absolute top quality care and support, to both Marlys and to family members, during her final weeks of in-home hospice care.