Dixie 'Jean' Snell Higginbotham, 83, of Cranberry Township, formerly of Brighton Township, passed away Tuesday, May 1, 2012, at Sherwood Oaks with her husband at her side. Born April 12, 1929, in Guernsey County, Ohio, she was the youngest of eight children born to the late Harry and Grace Blue Snell. She grew up in Waynesburg, PA and had attended Eastern Nazarene College in Massachusetts, but later transferred and graduated from Waynesburg College in 1952. For several years, Jean was employed in the banking industry, working at the First Federal Savings and Loan, Waynesburg, PA and the Second National Bank, Uniontown, PA. In 1952, she and her husband, Tom, moved from Uniontown, PA to Brighton Twp., and in 1962 they built a house on Crandon Circle and it was home for the next 47 years before moving to Sherwood Oaks, Cranberry Township, Pa. in September 2009. While employed with the Freedom National Bank, Freedom, PA, she completed her teaching degree through Geneva College, Beaver Falls, and was hired by Freedom Area School District, teaching 7th and 8th grade history and geography and was a sponsor of the Tri-Hi-Y. Jean also enjoyed many trips to New York City as a chaperon for the 8th grade field trip. In 1992, she retired after 25 years teaching. Jean was a faithful member of the First Presbyterian Church, Beaver, PA, had volunteered for the American Cancer Society, Contact, Meals on Wheels and her church office. She was an active member in the Beaver Valley Branch of the American Association of University Women, the PSEA and NEA. Jean enjoyed her leisure time golfing, gardening, bowling and traveling. Jean is survived by her husband of nearly 60 years, Thomas Edward Higginbotham, whom she married November 15, 1952; one daughter and son-in-law, Carrie Lynn and Gary Wayne Boettner, Spartanburg, South Carolina; one grandson, Thomas William Boettner, Anchorage, Alaska; her one remaining sibling, Margaret 'Peg' McMannus of Blairsville, Pa., and many nieces and nephews.