Collin (Tex) Hightower

Collin Sloan "Tex" Hightower, 78, of Idaho Falls, passed away September 13, 2011, at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center of natural causes. Tex was born June 12, 1933, in Silver City, New Mexico, to Clarence Sloan Hightower and Margaret Cathryn Allison Hightower. He grew up in Silver City, New Mexico, and graduated from Noxon High School in Noxon, Montana. He continued his education at Idaho State University, Columbia University in Washington, and completed his bachelor’s degree at Montana State. He worked as a logger, as a bronc and bull rider, rancher, and as a hunting guide in Salmon. On September 7, 1973, he married Shirley Denese Coburn at the Little Log Chapel in the Pines in Island Park, Idaho. They made their home in Idaho Falls, where Tex worked as an electrical engineer at the INL for Argonne and at CPP. Denese passed away July 22, 2007. Tex was a member of the Old Time Fiddlers and square dancing groups. He enjoyed leatherwork and was a great friend and neighbor. He tinkered with everything and could fix anything. Tex never knew a stranger. Tex is survived by two daughters, Lennae (Wade) Elkington of Eugene, OR, and Trenna (Todd) Howell of Ashton, ID; two sons, Craig Hansen of Klamath Falls, OR, and Lex Hightower of Idaho Falls, ID; a brother, Calvin (Ellen) Hightower of Parma, ID; and a sister, Emilee Crockett of Spokane, WA; 13 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Denese. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, September 16, 2011, at Wood Funeral Home East Side, 963 South Ammon Road. The family will visit with friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday and from 1 to 1:45 p.m. Friday, both at Wood East Side. Burial will be next to Denese in the Ammon Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10001, or online at http://www.alzfdn.org.

Funeral Services -- Friday

2:00 p.m. ,Friday, September 16, 2011 Wood Funeral Home East Side 963 South Ammon Road Idaho Falls, ID 83406 Notes: wThe family will visit with friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday and from 1 to 1:45 p.m. Friday, both at Wood East Side. Burial will be next to Denese in the Ammon Cemetery.