Of all the 100's of memorials I've made, this is the one I thought never to live long enough to make.
Our precious son, brother, husband and father died 24 April 2016 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He succumbed to the effects of PTSD and severe depression after 2 tours in Iraq and 18 months in Afghanistan from 2003-2007.
The son of Raymond J. and Andrea K. (Watkins) Higgins, and brother of Benson K. of Acada Ca., and Jared R. Shelton of Virginia. Husband of Kaitlyn Elizabeth (Higgins), and father of Kaden and Kase Shelton, of Romoland Ca.
His warm heart, easy smile and quick wit will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him, from both sides of his family. Including his step-father Bret A. Higgins, with whom he worked as an office manager at Bestway Laundry Solutions since 2007 in Corona Ca., and a ½ brother Blake A. Higgins.
His step-mother Shana (Gladen), and ½ siblings, Shalyn (Shelton) Weber, Logan D., both of Provo Utah. Rachel L., Ashlee M. and Hyrum R. Shelton of Corona Ca., a grandmother Patricia Shelton of Sun City Ca. His step-sister and brothers, Rachelle (Higgins) Solesbee, Lance N., both of Corona Ca., and Austin J. Higgins of Sandy Utah.
His In-laws, and the spouses of his sibling’s with whom he was very close, many aunts, uncles and cousins all mourn his loss.
We can never know the depth of all his sacrifices in service to our great nation, but the loss of one with so much promise, and genuine goodness is most deeply felt, recognized, and honored in our family. Thank you Nathan, for striving to overcome such terrible odds. You have a light that can never be extinguished.
His military awards include:
2-Army Commendation Medal's
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Combat Infantryman Badge
Expert Infantryman Badge
Parachutist Badge
Our daughter-in-law Marcella penned these words perfectly.
A HERO: who gave himself for our freedom. When we say "gave himself" I mean his MIND BODY & SOUL, after 3 tours when the twin towers fell. His integrity, his morals and values, his compassion, his genuine sensitivity and love, his laughter his tears his LIFE. He gave away what made him Nathan...his heart. He fought for what was supposed to be our freedom, but which was the massacre of his spirit.
Carting a freight load of memories only to fall into nightmares when asleep. Overloaded with his burden, the hands were only translucent and couldn't bare the weight in his heart. He lost his freedom to fill the whole.
PTSD is most defiantly real and so is unimaginable pain/depression. Desperately wanting to stand tall and be the man he once was, too far from sight. Who could love someone that did what he did? The answer is EVERYONE but him.
He was now in a war with himself. How do you win? How do you surrender? How do you escape? How do you forgive yourself? How can you love yourself again?
The weight of these questions alone can leave someone estranged if not taken one step at a time.
Do you have time to fall again & again & again? How many time can someone pick themselves up again and again and still be consumed with emptiness? No one can answer this, as we all have our own shoes to walk in. Nathan made a choice to turn his Old Shoes in for Angels Wings. Those wings can move mountains, and that is what he needed.
He was a War Veteran, He was a Son, a Brother, a Husband, a Father. He still is all these...just in the stars looking down. We love you Nathan!! You will be missed but never forgotten, Love Marcella
Our precious son, brother, husband and father died 24 April 2016 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He succumbed to the effects of PTSD and severe depression after 2 tours in Iraq and 18 months in Afghanistan from 2003-2007.
The son of Raymond J. and Andrea K. (Watkins) Higgins, and brother of Benson K. of Acada Ca., and Jared R. Shelton of Virginia. Husband of Kaitlyn Elizabeth (Higgins), and father of Kaden and Kase Shelton, of Romoland Ca.
His warm heart, easy smile and quick wit will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him, from both sides of his family. Including his step-father Bret A. Higgins, with whom he worked as an office manager at Bestway Laundry Solutions since 2007 in Corona Ca., and a ½ brother Blake A. Higgins.
His step-mother Shana (Gladen), and ½ siblings, Shalyn (Shelton) Weber, Logan D., both of Provo Utah. Rachel L., Ashlee M. and Hyrum R. Shelton of Corona Ca., a grandmother Patricia Shelton of Sun City Ca. His step-sister and brothers, Rachelle (Higgins) Solesbee, Lance N., both of Corona Ca., and Austin J. Higgins of Sandy Utah.
His In-laws, and the spouses of his sibling’s with whom he was very close, many aunts, uncles and cousins all mourn his loss.
We can never know the depth of all his sacrifices in service to our great nation, but the loss of one with so much promise, and genuine goodness is most deeply felt, recognized, and honored in our family. Thank you Nathan, for striving to overcome such terrible odds. You have a light that can never be extinguished.
His military awards include:
2-Army Commendation Medal's
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Combat Infantryman Badge
Expert Infantryman Badge
Parachutist Badge
Our daughter-in-law Marcella penned these words perfectly.
A HERO: who gave himself for our freedom. When we say "gave himself" I mean his MIND BODY & SOUL, after 3 tours when the twin towers fell. His integrity, his morals and values, his compassion, his genuine sensitivity and love, his laughter his tears his LIFE. He gave away what made him Nathan...his heart. He fought for what was supposed to be our freedom, but which was the massacre of his spirit.
Carting a freight load of memories only to fall into nightmares when asleep. Overloaded with his burden, the hands were only translucent and couldn't bare the weight in his heart. He lost his freedom to fill the whole.
PTSD is most defiantly real and so is unimaginable pain/depression. Desperately wanting to stand tall and be the man he once was, too far from sight. Who could love someone that did what he did? The answer is EVERYONE but him.
He was now in a war with himself. How do you win? How do you surrender? How do you escape? How do you forgive yourself? How can you love yourself again?
The weight of these questions alone can leave someone estranged if not taken one step at a time.
Do you have time to fall again & again & again? How many time can someone pick themselves up again and again and still be consumed with emptiness? No one can answer this, as we all have our own shoes to walk in. Nathan made a choice to turn his Old Shoes in for Angels Wings. Those wings can move mountains, and that is what he needed.
He was a War Veteran, He was a Son, a Brother, a Husband, a Father. He still is all these...just in the stars looking down. We love you Nathan!! You will be missed but never forgotten, Love Marcella
Of all the 100's of memorials I've made, this is the one I thought never to live long enough to make.
Our precious son, brother, husband and father died 24 April 2016 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He succumbed to the effects of PTSD and severe depression after 2 tours in Iraq and 18 months in Afghanistan from 2003-2007.
The son of Raymond J. and Andrea K. (Watkins) Higgins, and brother of Benson K. of Acada Ca., and Jared R. Shelton of Virginia. Husband of Kaitlyn Elizabeth (Higgins), and father of Kaden and Kase Shelton, of Romoland Ca.
His warm heart, easy smile and quick wit will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him, from both sides of his family. Including his step-father Bret A. Higgins, with whom he worked as an office manager at Bestway Laundry Solutions since 2007 in Corona Ca., and a ½ brother Blake A. Higgins.
His step-mother Shana (Gladen), and ½ siblings, Shalyn (Shelton) Weber, Logan D., both of Provo Utah. Rachel L., Ashlee M. and Hyrum R. Shelton of Corona Ca., a grandmother Patricia Shelton of Sun City Ca. His step-sister and brothers, Rachelle (Higgins) Solesbee, Lance N., both of Corona Ca., and Austin J. Higgins of Sandy Utah.
His In-laws, and the spouses of his sibling’s with whom he was very close, many aunts, uncles and cousins all mourn his loss.
We can never know the depth of all his sacrifices in service to our great nation, but the loss of one with so much promise, and genuine goodness is most deeply felt, recognized, and honored in our family. Thank you Nathan, for striving to overcome such terrible odds. You have a light that can never be extinguished.
His military awards include:
2-Army Commendation Medal's
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Combat Infantryman Badge
Expert Infantryman Badge
Parachutist Badge
Our daughter-in-law Marcella penned these words perfectly.
A HERO: who gave himself for our freedom. When we say "gave himself" I mean his MIND BODY & SOUL, after 3 tours when the twin towers fell. His integrity, his morals and values, his compassion, his genuine sensitivity and love, his laughter his tears his LIFE. He gave away what made him Nathan...his heart. He fought for what was supposed to be our freedom, but which was the massacre of his spirit.
Carting a freight load of memories only to fall into nightmares when asleep. Overloaded with his burden, the hands were only translucent and couldn't bare the weight in his heart. He lost his freedom to fill the whole.
PTSD is most defiantly real and so is unimaginable pain/depression. Desperately wanting to stand tall and be the man he once was, too far from sight. Who could love someone that did what he did? The answer is EVERYONE but him.
He was now in a war with himself. How do you win? How do you surrender? How do you escape? How do you forgive yourself? How can you love yourself again?
The weight of these questions alone can leave someone estranged if not taken one step at a time.
Do you have time to fall again & again & again? How many time can someone pick themselves up again and again and still be consumed with emptiness? No one can answer this, as we all have our own shoes to walk in. Nathan made a choice to turn his Old Shoes in for Angels Wings. Those wings can move mountains, and that is what he needed.
He was a War Veteran, He was a Son, a Brother, a Husband, a Father. He still is all these...just in the stars looking down. We love you Nathan!! You will be missed but never forgotten, Love Marcella
Our precious son, brother, husband and father died 24 April 2016 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He succumbed to the effects of PTSD and severe depression after 2 tours in Iraq and 18 months in Afghanistan from 2003-2007.
The son of Raymond J. and Andrea K. (Watkins) Higgins, and brother of Benson K. of Acada Ca., and Jared R. Shelton of Virginia. Husband of Kaitlyn Elizabeth (Higgins), and father of Kaden and Kase Shelton, of Romoland Ca.
His warm heart, easy smile and quick wit will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him, from both sides of his family. Including his step-father Bret A. Higgins, with whom he worked as an office manager at Bestway Laundry Solutions since 2007 in Corona Ca., and a ½ brother Blake A. Higgins.
His step-mother Shana (Gladen), and ½ siblings, Shalyn (Shelton) Weber, Logan D., both of Provo Utah. Rachel L., Ashlee M. and Hyrum R. Shelton of Corona Ca., a grandmother Patricia Shelton of Sun City Ca. His step-sister and brothers, Rachelle (Higgins) Solesbee, Lance N., both of Corona Ca., and Austin J. Higgins of Sandy Utah.
His In-laws, and the spouses of his sibling’s with whom he was very close, many aunts, uncles and cousins all mourn his loss.
We can never know the depth of all his sacrifices in service to our great nation, but the loss of one with so much promise, and genuine goodness is most deeply felt, recognized, and honored in our family. Thank you Nathan, for striving to overcome such terrible odds. You have a light that can never be extinguished.
His military awards include:
2-Army Commendation Medal's
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Combat Infantryman Badge
Expert Infantryman Badge
Parachutist Badge
Our daughter-in-law Marcella penned these words perfectly.
A HERO: who gave himself for our freedom. When we say "gave himself" I mean his MIND BODY & SOUL, after 3 tours when the twin towers fell. His integrity, his morals and values, his compassion, his genuine sensitivity and love, his laughter his tears his LIFE. He gave away what made him Nathan...his heart. He fought for what was supposed to be our freedom, but which was the massacre of his spirit.
Carting a freight load of memories only to fall into nightmares when asleep. Overloaded with his burden, the hands were only translucent and couldn't bare the weight in his heart. He lost his freedom to fill the whole.
PTSD is most defiantly real and so is unimaginable pain/depression. Desperately wanting to stand tall and be the man he once was, too far from sight. Who could love someone that did what he did? The answer is EVERYONE but him.
He was now in a war with himself. How do you win? How do you surrender? How do you escape? How do you forgive yourself? How can you love yourself again?
The weight of these questions alone can leave someone estranged if not taken one step at a time.
Do you have time to fall again & again & again? How many time can someone pick themselves up again and again and still be consumed with emptiness? No one can answer this, as we all have our own shoes to walk in. Nathan made a choice to turn his Old Shoes in for Angels Wings. Those wings can move mountains, and that is what he needed.
He was a War Veteran, He was a Son, a Brother, a Husband, a Father. He still is all these...just in the stars looking down. We love you Nathan!! You will be missed but never forgotten, Love Marcella
