Ottis Lee Higgins, 81, of Buffalo Gap, Texas passed away at home, peacefully in his sleep, on April 4, 2023. Ottis, referred to as Lee or by his nickname, Sonny, was born November 1, 1941, in El Paso, Texas, and raised in nearby Ysleta by his parents Ottis Clarence Higgins and Francis Lee Bissonet. After high school, Lee attended Texas A&I University in Kingsville for a period before returning to El Paso for work. During this time in El Paso, he met and married Diana Driggs Leach. Before starting a family, Lee returned to school and graduated from New Mexico State University with a degree in Wildlife Biology. Following graduation, Lee worked for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Port Isabel, Texas and then for the Bureau of Land Management, first in Socorro, New Mexico, and then in Phoenix, Arizona, where he spent the majority of his career. While at the BLM, he served as Division Chief of Natural Resources and spent much of his time directing the wild horse and burro program. Lee retired from the BLM in 2005 and moved to Buffalo Gap, Texas to be closer to his family. Lee is survived by his daughters, Kellie Higgins Strickland and husband Shanon Strickland of Austin, Texas and Tracy Fiorito and husband Robert Fiorito of Mansfield, Texas, grandchildren, Hanna Lee Clausen, Coleman, and Elena Strickland, and his ex- wife and friend, Diana Higgins of Abilene, Texas. Lee will be greatly missed not only by his family but also by a host of close friends. Family and friends will remember Lee for his unvarnished charm, his quick, often dry, sense of humor, and his fierce independence (which is a loving way of saying he could be a bit stubborn at times). Lee loved spending time with his friends and was known as a great storyteller. He had a boundless treasure of stories, many of which came from his early years, the adventures and misdeeds of kid raised in a pool hall. Lee was an avid reader who, even at the age of 81, enjoyed thinking and learning about the world. Though he would not have described himself as an intellectual, he never stopped researching his interests--and his interests were varied-cooking, gardening, woodworking, history of the Southwest, among many others. Lee was an outdoorsman who loved camping, fishing, hunting, and birdwatching. At some point, he came to the conclusion that observing wildlife was more satisfying than hunting and always had good binoculars close at hand. He spent almost his entire career as a steward of the natural world and cared deeply about wildlife and environmental conservation. He was a longtime sustaining member of the National Resources Defense Council and donated regularly to the National Wildlife Federation. Lee was also a soft-hearted, compassionate man who, for the past decade, made generous annual donations to the Smile Train. Lee had so many stories left to tell and so much good left to do in the world. Words cannot express how much he will be missed. His family asks that if you are so moved, you make a donation in his memory. To honor Lee's memory, the family is hosting a celebration of life on May 27 th at 4:00 pm in Buffalo Gap. All friends of Lee's are welcome. For event details and updates, please contact North Funeral Home (325) 677-6246 or Tracy Fiorito (682) 597-8611. Please use this online memorial page to share a memory or photos. Memorials may be directed to: NRDC action.nrdc.org/donation/702-tribute-gift-nrdc NWF www.nwf.org/memorial Smile Train donate.smiletrain.org