Phillis Carlean Higgins, age 74, passed away on Friday, October 13, 2023.

Carlean was born in Tulsa on November 23, 1948, to Frank Willis Rotramel and Barbara June (Snyder) Rotramel. She was the oldest of two children. Carlean attended Central High School, where she met the love of her life, Michael Ray Higgins. They were married on March 31, 1967, just two months before her high school graduation, right before Mike's deployment overseas.

In January 1970, Mike and Carlean welcomed their daughter, Kimberly, and Carlean embarked on her lifelong calling of parenthood. She devoted herself to her family as a stay-at-home mom, raising her two sons, Brent and Ryan. Carlean re-entered the workforce only when her youngest was in elementary school, joining Tulsa Public Schools in the Fall of 1982. She served diligently for 31 years, eventually retiring in 2013. Her work took her to Eugene Field Elementary, Mark Twain Elementary, and Kendall Whittier Elementary, where she could be found in the office, media center, or wherever the principal needed her.

During her summer vacations, she and Mike enjoyed trips to Padre Island in South Texas and spent many months camping at Lake Keystone or Spavinaw State Park. Carlean was always the life of the party, willing to stay up late, toasting in the moonlight, and never meeting a stranger.

In her free time, Carlean enjoyed searching for deals at thrift stores, garage sales, and recently via online auctions. She was known to be talented behind a sewing machine, crafting her wedding dress and often making her children's clothes. She was equally talented in the kitchen, renowned for her homemade salsa, spicy pretzels, and her famous chicken and noodles (a family favorite for any occasion). Many holidays were spent around her kitchen table, where she prepared an abundance of food and encouraged family to take some home.

Carlean is survived by her children, Kimberly Bennett of Tulsa, Brent Higgins (Staci) of Sand Springs, and Ryan Higgins (Alexis) of Sand Springs; her grandchildren Ashley Nichols, Allyson Martin (Curt), Lexi Nichols, Znick Ferrell, America Higgins, Mary Fletcher (Tye), and Owen Higgins; eight great-grandchildren; her brother Frank Rotramel (Linda), and a host of extended family. Carlean was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Michael Ray Higgins.

A funeral service to celebrate the life of Carlean Higgins will be held at 10 AM on Friday, October 20, 2023, at Mobley-Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel in Sand Springs.