Richard Bigelow

(From Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home)

Richard Lee Bigelow, age 85, of Marionville, Missouri, passed away at 6:47 a.m. on Monday, January 3, 2022, at Mercy Hospital in Joplin, Missouri. He was born March 21, 1936, in Marionville, the son of John Harold and Opal Irene (Wells) Bigelow.

Richard was a 1954 graduate of Marionville High School and worked at Vaisey Bristol Shoe Factory. He was an entrepreneur investing in real estate and owning a vending route. He enjoyed fishing and camping and was a member of the Buck Prairie Baptist Church.

On August 3, 1987, he married Sharon “Sue” Mooneyham in Miami, Oklahoma.

Richard is survived by his wife of 34 years, Sue; four sons, Montie Bigelow and his wife, Elaine, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Steve Bigelow and his wife, Pam, of Moyock, North Carolina, Ronnie Bigelow and his wife, Cindy, of Lake Gaston, North Carolina and Brian Elliott and his wife, Tabitha, of Holt, Missouri; three daughters, Melissa Teets of Virginia Beach, Julie Forrester and her husband, Charles, of Aurora, Missouri and Dana Wright and her husband, Ronny, of Billings, Missouri; daughter-in-law, Jenny Bigelow of Virginia Beach; three sisters, Carol Hargus of Aurora, Barbara Kean and her husband, Carroll, of Mt. Vernon, Missouri, Eva Brown and her husband, Bill, of Joplin, Missouri; one brother, Johnnie Bigelow of Sedalia, Missouri; 22 grandchildren, 23 great- grandchildren; one great-great grandson and several nieces and nephews.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, John, and Opal; son, Harold Bigelow; great-granddaughter, McKinsey Mendez; sister, Joan Wise and her husband, Jack; sister-in-law, Audrey Bigelow and son-in-law, Jim Teets.

A visitation, under the direction of the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home, in Aurora, will be held from 9:00-10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 8, 2022, at the First Baptist Church in Marionville, with the funeral service to follow at 10:00 a.m. in the church. Burial will follow at the Maple Park Cemetery in Aurora.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made payable to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, in care of the funeral home.