Senaca Rex Higley

Senaca Rex Higley passed away on February 26, 2024. He was born August 8, 1977, in Ogden, Utah, to Letoy Jacobs and Rex Higley. Senaca graduated from Roy High School and attended Weber State University. 

Senaca married Carrisa Spencer. They later divorced. Senaca met and married Gretchen Harper and together they had a beautiful little girl, Indica. They later divorced. Senaca was a wonderful and loving father. He had a precious connection with Indica. She was his purpose and his joy. She brought him great happiness. They share many positive traits—they are both kind, calm, smart, loving, creative, brave, and resilient. Senaca loved Indica with all of his heart and was so proud of her. She was his world. He would often talk about how sweet, intelligent, and respectful she was. He admired her. Senaca wrote: “I’m so incredibly grateful that I get to be her father!” He cherished his relationship with his amazing daughter.  

Senaca worked as an auctioneer, a career he not only excelled at, but loved. He made several friends in the auctioneering field who revered him and looked up to him. He was immensely talented and found great purpose in his work. He was widely successful—his charisma, enthusiasm, and warmth helped him connect with any audience. 

In addition to being a persuasive and energetic speaker, Senaca was a great listener. He was safe and unassuming. If you ever needed to talk with a trusted friend who would not judge you and just help you feel seen, understood, and loved, Senaca was your guy. If you ever felt lonely or unloved, Senaca could brighten your day. He could put a smile on your face. He was a great protector and could help you feel a strong sense of calm. He could help you feel peace. In fact, even when life felt overwhelming, Senaca could help you realize that everything was going to work out—that everything was going to be okay, eventually. He was confident and optimistic. He was filled with hopeful anticipation for a bright future. 

Senaca was a special soul. He was warm, thoughtful, and empathetic. When those around him suffered, he was very compassionate and understanding. He felt their pain and did everything in his power to help comfort them. Senaca was a true friend. Everyone he knew spoke about the amazing friend he was to them. He was so likeable, relatable, and safe. Once you met him, you just loved him for his vibrant spirit and wanted to be his friend forever. Senaca was trustworthy, selfless, and dependable. Everyone in this world needs a friend like Senaca. Just seeing him or hearing his voice would make you smile. 

Senaca was inspired by the world around him. He often experienced a sense of awe and wonder—he felt part of something larger than himself. He loved nature and the beauties of this world. He loved seeing new places and meeting people. He loved to dance and to listen to music. He was a free spirit: dancing spontaneously and listening to inspiring music soothed his soul. He was outgoing and fun, but never at the expense of others. Senaca was always very inclusive: he was welcoming and gentle. 

Senaca was as authentic as they come. He was unfiltered, genuine, and real. His sense of humor would have you laughing one minute and his tenderness would have you crying the next. His candor was refreshing. Senaca was an open book. He loved sharing, connecting, and bonding through stories and adventures. He embraced vulnerability and told his life story with great courage: he talked freely about his struggles and his successes. Life was not always easy for Senaca, but he found great joy and strength through his relationships with his friends and family. 

One of Senaca’s greatest gifts was his resilience. When heavy challenges came into his life, he never gave up. He kept battling and kept trying with impressive courage. And, he was committed to helping others navigate their own path in life: never judging, just loving. He had a strong belief in the power to improve, to get better each day. He was fond of saying: “Only you can change and make the decision to be a better version of yourself!” This belief was motivating to him and to his friends and family. He was always striving to become a better version of himself. Just being around him motivated you to try to become better. His positive energy was contagious. He cherished life and taught others to cherish it as well. 

Senaca believed in a higher power and had faith that this higher power was guiding him and watching over him and his loved ones. He knew that this higher power was loving, compassionate, understanding, and forgiving. This knowledge shaped how he saw the world and how he lived his life. Senaca was a meek and humble soul. He was guided by the divine. 

Senaca is survived by his sweet daughter, Indica, as well as Tom and Bonnie Van Cleave, who have loved and welcomed Senaca into their lives like a child of their own. He is also survived by Niles (Michelle) Mortenson, Zack Higley, and Marnie Mortenson. Senaca is also survived by several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends. Senaca was preceded in death by his parents, having lost his sweet mother when he was just a young boy. 

Graveside service will be held Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at the Hooper City Cemetery 5290 S. 6300 W., Hooper, Utah. A celebration of life will be held later this year with details to still come. 

Senaca you are so loved and will be dearly missed. Life simply will not be the same without you in it: your positive influence has changed us for the better. We will never forget you. We look forward to the day when we can see the light in your eyes, hear the calm in your voice, and feel the goodness in your heart. We will laugh, cry, embrace, and share some wonderful adventures together. Rest in peace our sweet boy. 

The family wishes to express our sincere thanks to Senaca’s longtime friend, Bryant Skeen Thompson for this beautiful obituary.