Violet Morris Higinbotham Mikulski, Class of 1944, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 17 in Fairmont. Violet was known as Violet Higinbotham when she was in the MHS senior play.

Violet’s children are Tom Mikulski, Class of 1966, who grew up in Carolina and lives in Henderson, Nevada; Fairmont State grad Stephen Mikulski, Class of 1964, a Montgomery County Public Schools teacher of engineering design  married to Holly White Mikulski and living in Germantown, Maryland; David Higinbotham and wife Cheryl of Greensburg, Pennsylvania; Catherine Rogers and husband Harry of Fairmont; and Susan Morgan and husband Nick Perrotto of Cupertino, California.  

Steve and Holly’s daughter, Kristen Mikulski Mitchell, lives in Istanbul, Turkey with husband Nick Mitchell.

Tom’s son, Tom B. Mikulski II, is a 1986 North Marion High grad who lives in Denver, Colorado.

Another granddaughter, Amie Marchesani, lives in Monongah with husband Nick.

Other Mikulskis who graduated from Monongah High or Marion High:

Carolyn Prahl Mikulski, Class of 1966.

Cathy Rogers Mikulski, Class of 1969.

Cheri Mikulski, North Marion 1988.

If you have memories of the Mikulski family, email John Olesky at jo4wvu@neo.rr.com and I’ll include them on this Monongah High Alumni blog.

Violet’s obituary:

Violet Marie (Morris) Mikulski, 91, of Monongah, WV passed away peacefully with all her children at her side on Wednesday evening, December 17, 2014 at the Genesis Tygart Center in Fairmont, where she had been a resident for the past six weeks.   Violet was born May 2, 1923, in Enterprise, WV, the only child of the late Courtie “Jack” and Eunice Louise (Belt) Morris. 

In addition to her parents, Violet was predeceased by her first husband, Eugene Higinbotham, her second husband, Stephen “Charlie” Mikulski, her step-father Lloyd Whaley and four step-siblings, Harold Whaley, Jeryl Whaley, Saranell Shaffer and Evalina Rowand. 

She is survived by her five loving children; David Higinbotham and wife, Cheryl of Greensburg, PA; Stephen Mikulski, Jr. and wife Holly of Germantown, MD; Thomas Mikulski of Henderson, NV; Catherine Rogers and husband Harry of Fairmont, WV and Susan Morgan and husband Nick Perrotto of Cupertino, CA;  12 grandchildren, David Higinbotham II (Danette) of Charleston, WV; Mark Higinbotham of Martinsburg, WV; Traci DeMichele of Greensburg, PA; Jeffrey Higinbotham (Jasmine) of Sherman Oaks, CA; Kristin Mitchell (Nick) of Istanbul, Turkey; Lindsay Mikulski of Germantown, MD; Thomas Mikulski II of Denver, CO; Cheri Smith (Bob) of Morgantown, WV;  Chris Armstrong (Tiffany) of Grant Town, WV; Michael Rogers (Tanya) of Fairmont, WV; Amie Marchesani (Nick) of Monongah, WV and Chris Vanslow (Lisa) of San Diego, CA; 18 great-grandchildren, Nicholas, Ashley, Megan (Mark), Anthony, Kaitlin, Mark Jr., Michael, Alec, Dominic, Bobby, Mikey, Tessa, Ava, Eden, Jake, Brenalin, Kinlei, Elijah and another one on the way; great-great granddaughter Adyson and her faithful and loving four-legged companion Shiloh.

After her father died suddenly of a massive heart attack when she was only eleven years old, Violet and her mother were forced to relocate from the Enterprise area to Carolina, where her mother was able to find work as a housekeeper.  Her mother ultimately married her employer, Lloyd Whaley.  Violet lived in Carolina from 1936 until 1968, when she moved to Monongah. 

Violet attended Monongah High School and graduated from Fairmont State College with her nursing degree.  Prior to her retirement, she was a highly respected Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist at Fairmont General Hospital, where she provided quality anesthesia care to thousands of patients over a career spanning nearly 30 years.

Before deciding to return to college in her mid-forties, Violet completed the Civil Service exam and worked several years in her hometown of Carolina at the Post Office.  Violet was an avid reader and was a member of the Fairmont chapter of the Order of The Eastern Star.   

Family and close friends will be received at Ross Funeral Home 801 Fairmont Avenue Fairmont on Saturday December 20, 2014 from 10:00 A.M. till 12 noon followed by a brief service at Noon with Rev. Wesley Q. Dobbs Officiating.  Interment will follow at Beverly Hills Memorial Gardens, Westover, WV.  

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.rossfh.com .