Peggy Jean Bigley

Peggy Jean Bigley died Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2009, at the Evergreen Community Memory Care Unit, in Olathe, Kan. She was born Feb. 7, 1925, she was a lifelong resident of Kansas. She was the daughter of James and Hazel Reed and grew up in Pleasanton, Kan.

After high school she eventually settled in Kansas City, working at Parke-Davis Pharmaceuticals, where she met her future husband, David T. Bigley Sr. They were married at Lake Tahoe, Nev., in 1947 and she became a stepmother to young David Jr. Several years later they enlarged their family with two daughters, Nancy and Jo Susan.

Peggy was a busy homemaker, supporting her children's activities in school, scouting, Job Daughters and music. She was an active member of the Marlborough United Methodist Church, serving as the church secretary. Friends and family remember Peggy as a talented seamtress. She sewed many formals, wedding dresses, and costumes for theater productions. After retirement she and Dave moved to southeast Kansas to help care for their mothers, where Peggy spent many hours doing what she loved most -- quilting. They were active in the Kansas City Police Department Retirees' activities and traveled across the country for the reunions of the 16th Armored Division.

She was preceded in death by Dave, her parents, and sister, Rosemary Peck. She is survived by her daughters, Nancy Ann Bigley, of Denver, Colo., and Jo Spear, of Olathe, Kan; her son David Jr., of Riverside, N.J. Grandma Peggy will be missed by her four grandchildren, Callie, Katelin, Christina, and David Curtis.

Visitation will be from 1-3 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 27, at McGilley and Frye Funeral Home, 105 E. Loula St., Olathe, Kan. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, Dec. 28, at Fort Scott National Cemetery, in Fort Scott.

Condolences may be offered at www.mcgilley-frye.com.