Lillian Higbee Macfarlane Collection

Lillian Higbee Macfarlane was born 12 September 1890 in Cedar City, Utah, the fourth of five children born to Alonzo and Sarah Ann Jones Higbee. After the death of her mother, Lillian was taken into the home of Isaac C. and Mae Higbee who raised her as though she had been their own child. At an early age, it became evident that she possessed talent in both music and art and she was given the advantages of music, art and dancing lessons. She pursued her studies in these areas, especially in the field of music, and became the first graduate in music of the Branch Normal School, graduating in 1910.

In 1911 and 1912, she taught music in both St. George and Kanab, Utah. In 1913, Lillian was awarded a scholarship to the McCune School of Music in Salt Lake City, but after much soul searching she decided that she wanted a home and family. She married Erastus Heyborne Macfarlane, the last child of Eliza Agnes Heyborne and John Menzies Macfarlane, on 24 June 1913. To Erastus and Lillian Macfarlane were born six children, Dean, Eva, Lewis, Mary, and twins Sinclair and Clark.Lillian performed and taught music all her life. She taught piano lessons for 50 years; she was a church organist for 30 years; she organized trios and quartets and was an accomplished accompanist. She was preceded in death by the loss of her husband, Erastus, and son, Sinclair, in 1954. She died 15 April 1973, in Tigard, Oregon, at the home of her daughter, Eva.