Marian M. Higgins Donohue, 78, of Quincy, died Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, at her home.

A daughter of Arthur R. and Emily Morey Gard Higgins, she was born Nov. 24, 1938, the eldest of nine children. She spent her childhood in Adams County and graduated from Quincy High School in 1956.

Marian continued her education at Culver-Stockton College and University of Illinois. She took a break to rear a family of three boys in the Chicago area. During this time she was very active as a board member of the Algonquin Public Library. She also was a substitute teacher, was active in PTA and performed such functions as den mother and volunteering at her sons' schools.

When her children were grown, she resumed her education, completing a bachelor's degree, and in 1983 earned a law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law. Marian was licensed to practice law in Illinois and for a time in Missouri and other states. She was a member of the Illinois State Bar Association.

Following law school she worked as a clerk for Illinois 1st District Appellate Court Judge James C. Murray, a position she found enlightening as well as fulfilling. In 1996, Marian moved back to the Quincy area and continued working in the area of law, editing and working on bar examinations and legal briefs.

Marian was an avid learner throughout her life. Among her interests were history, politics, flower gardening, baking and cooking. Her bread was the best in the state. She loved animals, especially her pet cats, usually acquired by taking in strays. She knew the habits of many of the wild birds that came to her feeders.