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Bill Ray Bigbee

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Bill Ray Bigbee

Birth	:	18 Apr 1936 Comanche County, Kansas, USA
Death	:	4 Nov 2020 Kearney, Buffalo County, Nebraska, USA
Burial	:	Lillian Cemetery, Lillian, Custer County, USA
Coordinate	:	41.5925000, -99.6500000
Description	:	Bill Ray Bigbee was born April 18, 1936 at the family farm near Wilmore, KS. He was the fourth of five children born to Ray E. and Esther (Ferrin) Bigbee. He passed away on November 4, 2020, at Kearney Regional Medical Center. Bill’s early childhood years were spent on the family farm in Wilmore where he began learning to farm. His schooling for the first two years was at Ridge Summit, a country school near their home, which then consolidated with Wilmore Grade School. In November 1942, Bill’s mother passed away. His father married Zenith Roderick (who loved Bill... Read More	Bill Ray Bigbee was born April 18, 1936 at the family farm near Wilmore, KS. He was the fourth of five children born to Ray E. and Esther (Ferrin) Bigbee. He passed away on November 4, 2020, at Kearney Regional Medical Center. Bill’s early childhood years were spent on the family farm in Wilmore where he began learning to farm. His schooling for the first two years was at Ridge Summit, a country school near their home, which then consolidated with Wilmore Grade School. In November 1942, Bill’s mother passed away. His father married Zenith Roderick (who loved Bill and his siblings as her own) in May 1948 and the family moved to a farm north of Merna, NE. During that move, Bill (age 12) helped drive a straight truck and put in the first corn crop by himself while his dad went back to Kansas to harvest wheat. Their first winter was a rude welcome to Nebraska as they endured the Blizzard of ’48. Bill finished grade school at a country school a few miles southeast of their farm. All through high school and three years following, he worked on Saturdays at Davolt's Grocery in Merna. Bill graduated in 1954 from Merna High School. After completing his education, he continued farming with his father. On August 11, 1957, Bill was united in marriage to Phyllis Myers at the Lillian Church of Christ. They made their home north of Merna for a short time, before moving west of Broken Bow where they were engaged in farming and ranching. It was here that they were blessed with five children: Carolyn, Jeanette, Kathy, Mike, and Linda. Their first land purchase was the Bates farm in the Lillian community. When Bill’s dad retired in 1975, Bill and Phyllis were able to purchase his dad’s original farm north of Merna. In 1994, Bill and Phyllis built a home on the northwest edge of Broken Bow, continuing with farming and ranching until his death. A longtime member of Lillian Church of Christ, Bill was baptized in November of 1966. He was a part of the church board for several years, served on the school board of Prairie Hill District #74 most of the years his children were in grade school, and was a director on the Broken Bow Cooperative Marketing Association Board for many years. In addition to being a successful farmer/rancher, Bill was mechanically gifted. He was able to repair, build, or modify nearly anything to solve a problem. A special project he was pleased to accomplish, with the assistance of a grandson, was restoring his 706 International tractor. He was able to use it in some tractor pulls and the Merna parade, pulling a “Bee-hive” trailer filled with his entire family. He also enjoyed pasture rides, especially when using his 4-wheeler with the wagon he built for giving rides to his grandchildren. Highlights of the last few months include a surprise revealing of the restoration of his first tractor (a 1955 300 Farmall completed by a grandson), a big gathering at the farm with most of his family attending, and being able to participate in several days of harvest. Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Phyllis, of 63 years; children, Carolyn (Jeff) Warren of Norfolk, Jeanette (Rusty) Parker of Norfolk, Kathy (Dan) Smith of Pleasant Hill, IA, Mike (Tania) Bigbee of Arnold, and Linda Mosel of Merna; eighteen grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; brother, Jerry Bigbee; and sister-in-law, Joan Myers. Bill was preceded in death by his parents and step-mother; infant brother, Richard Bigbee; sisters, Norma (Willard) Johnson and Joanne (Bill) Lyddon; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Darlene Bigbee, Ruth Lea (Ray) Flannery, and Rex Myers. Bill always enjoyed a good laugh. Even as he endured all the medical procedures in his last few years, he was ready with a quip or joke. We recall with fondness his teasing, especially of the children in his family, including nieces and nephews, and his practical jokes. We will miss him, but are thankful for his legacy of grit, hard work, and humor.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Bill Ray Bigbee's memorial?
Bill Ray Bigbee's memorial is located at: Lillian Cemetery, Lillian, Custer County, USA.
When did Bill Ray Bigbee death?
Bill Ray Bigbee death on 4 Nov 2020 in Kearney, Buffalo County, Nebraska, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Bill Ray Bigbee's memorial?
Latitude: 41.5925000
Longitude: -99.6500000

Family Members:

Parent

Ray E Bigbee

(1902 - 1981)

Esther Irene Ferrin Bigbee

(1903 - 1942)

Siblings

Richard Duane Bigbee

(1928 - 1928)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Lillian Cemetery
Lillian, Custer County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5925000, -99.6500000

2. Gates Cemetery
Gates, Custer County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6492004, -99.6361008

3. Hilldale Cemetery
Custer County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5147018, -99.6557999

4. Victoria Creek Cemetery
Anselmo, Custer County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6255000, -99.7510000

5. Round Valley Cemetery
Custer County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5758018, -99.5180969

6. New Hope Cemetery
Merna, Custer County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5772018, -99.7833023

7. Predmore Cemetery
Walworth, Custer County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6755981, -99.5674973

8. Kilfoil Cemetery
Merna, Custer County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4883003, -99.7878036

9. Saint Anselms Cemetery
Anselmo, Custer County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6157990, -99.8442001

10. Saint Andrews Catholic Cemetery
Custer County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5097008, -99.8253021

11. Custer Center Cemetery
Broken Bow, Custer County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4377000, -99.7040000

12. French Tableland Cemetery
Weissert, Custer County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4818993, -99.4906006

13. Somerford Cemetery
Sargent, Custer County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5793991, -99.4328003

14. West Union Cemetery
Sargent, Custer County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6763992, -99.4608002

15. Grandview Cemetery
Anselmo, Custer County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6255962, -99.8944652

16. Saint Joseph Cemetery
Broken Bow, Custer County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4049988, -99.6647034

17. Madison Square Cemetery
Taylor, Loup County, USA
Coordinate: 41.7694016, -99.5314026

18. Heritage Memorial Gardens
Broken Bow, Custer County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3947000, -99.6391000

19. Saint Marys Cemetery
Sargent, Custer County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6768990, -99.4044037

20. Broken Bow Cemetery
Broken Bow, Custer County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3905983, -99.6399994

21. Ortello Cemetery
Merna, Custer County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5113983, -99.9024963

22. Dry Valley Cemetery
Custer County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4967003, -99.3955994

23. Lone Tree Cemetery
Custer County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4536018, -99.4321976

24. Mount Hope Cemetery
Sargent, Custer County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6768990, -99.3855972