HIGGINBOTHAM, CHRISTOPHER

Christopher “Chris” Higginbotham was born on January 24, 1990 in Las Vegas Nevada and is the son of Jeanette Higginbotham. While he was raised for much of his childhood in Pahrump Nevada, they moved to the Spokane area just after September 11, 2001 and he called Spokane home.  

Chris was a happy boy from the start. He enjoyed working on fast cars with his friends and had a love of skateboarding. Later in life, he loved to ride motorcycles and prior to his passing owned three Ducati motorcycles. Chris was also a talented artist and such a perfectionist that no drawing was ever right. However, his vision on the canvas led him to win a new neighborhood landscape design contest; ultimately, not only designing an award-winning design, but expertly choosing the appropriate year-round plants that would make the neighborhood aesthetically pleasing to all who would see it.   

Upon graduating from high school, SGT Higginbotham took a year off to enjoy life then joined the U.S. Army and where he became an infantryman. He was then assigned to 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado. SGT Higginbotham served two 9 month tours to Afghanistan.  Chris was known as an old soul, much more mature and knowledgeable than most people of his age. However, he was also a jokester and loved to light up the room with his antics and contagious laugh.  

SGT Higgenbotham passed away on April 25, 2015, as the result of a tragic motorcycle accident in Colorado Springs, Colorado just one week prior to what would have been his third overseas deployment, however, this time to Iraq. 

Chris was married to Brittany who was from Nashville Tennessee, and he fell in love with the area, the culture, and the people. This is why SGT Higginbotham is laid to rest just an hour north of Nashville in the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery in Hopkinsville Kentucky.  

SGT Higgenbotham’s military awards included the Army Commendation Medal (x3), Army Achievement Medal (x2), Army Good Conduct Medal (x2), National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal (x2) with Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Medal, NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge, and an Air Assault Badge. 

The Washington State Fallen Heroes Project proudly remembers SGT Christopher “Chris” Higginbotham for his service, sacrifice, and commitment to our nation. Our hope is that his life continues to inspire all who learn his story.