Laura Camille Higer was born September 24, 1941, in Hays, KS. She was the first of three children born to parents, Harvey N. and Opal Laura (Guy) Rolland. Camille passed away Sunday, October 3, 2010, in the Hays Medical Center at the age of 69.

After graduating from Trego Community High School in 1959, she attended college in Chickasha, OK, where she played in a Women's Dance Band and then transferred to Kansas State University and finally to Fort Hays State University to finish her bachelor's degree. In 1960, she returned to FHSU where she continued her education, eventually earning her Master's Degree in Speech Pathology and Special Education under the tutelage of Dr. Herndon.

On June 10, 1972, she married Virgil Higer in Hill City, KS and then gave birth to a daughter, Laura Loree in April of 1979.

Leading a very interesting life, Camille worked in the lab at the Trego County Hospital in WaKeeney in her early years, participated in a Business and Professional Organization for Women, and even worked as a House Mother for the TKE Fraternity at Fort Hays State University in her later years. Within her 40 years as a teacher, she worked for the Institute of Logapedics, Northwest Kansas Service Center, and taught in nearly every town in Western Kansas.

She loved working with kids and always said she "understood 3 year olds, because she was about that age too". When she retired in 2008, she was working in Palco as a Speech Pathologist for the preschool classes. For the last few years of her life, she loved spending time with family and kept in touch with cousins and friends through Facebook or by telephone. She was never one to say no to a conversation, and through her lust for life, she touched many lives.

Camille is survived by her mother, Opal Rolland of WaKeeney; a sister Merrie Weber and husband, Ronald, of El Paso, TX; a brother, Lane Rolland and wife Carolyn, of Springfield, MO; a daughter, Laura Higer of Hays; her ex-husband, Virgil Higer of Hill City; two nephews and four nieces.

Her father, Harvey Rolland preceded her in death.

Visitation for Camille is 6-8 PM Thursday at Schmitt Funeral Home in WaKeeney. Services are 10:30 AM, Friday, October 8, 2010 in the First United Methodist Church with Reverend Glenn Krebb officiating. Interment is in the WaKeeney City Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to the Laura Camille Higer Memorial Fund and can be sent in care of Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 N 12th, WaKeeney, KS 67672.