Doris Louise Bigham's Obituary
Doris Louise Bigham (née Woodside), age 92, of Pinckneyville, Illinois, passed away on Sunday, September 8, 2024 at 11:15 p.m. in Hermann, Missouri.
Doris was born in Pinckneyville on August 18, 1932 to David and Anna (née Hubler) Woodside. She graduated from Pinckneyville Community High School in 1950. On June 16, 1956, Doris married Orville Bigham and began a union which would continue until Orville's passing on June 14, 2016, just two days prior to their 60th wedding anniversary.
For nearly six decades, Doris helped Orville and his brother, Roy Dean, and their respective families build and operate a family farm in Pinckneyville. Being a farmer's wife meant that Doris was tasked with mowing the grass, chauffeuring people from field to field, and single-handedly preparing three meals each day for hungry farmers that a full restaurant kitchen staff would struggle to feed - but she was always up to the task. If you visited her kitchen, you could always count on her offering you a slice of homemade pie or a piece of cake. Later in life, Doris lent her cooking abilities to the First Baptist Church to prepare funeral meals for grieving families.
The best word to describe Doris is "caretaker". She was a devoted mother to her two children. Doris then dedicated her time to provide care to her ailing mother. She was a wonderful grandmother to six grandchildren whom all shared special bonds with her. After his stroke, Doris helped nurse Orville back to health and then cared for him as he battled future strokes and dementia. Lastly, in 2019 she earned the nickname "GGB" (for Great Grandma Bigham) and became smitten with her great grandchildren. Her caregiving was not limited to her family. Doris had a passion for gardening and maintained an impressive vegetable and flower garden.
Doris was a sports enthusiast. Whether it was the St. Louis Cardinals, NBA basketball, or college volleyball, there was always a game playing on the living room television. Like so many Pinckneyville residents, she loved Pinckneyville Panthers basketball. She would spend most Friday and Saturday winter nights either in Thomas Gymnasium sitting in the same season tickets she held since her children were in high school or anxiously listening to the call on the radio.
Doris and Orville enjoyed traveling, especially through the Farm Bureau, and visited all fifty states together. Doris was active in the Perry County 4-H and was an avid reader. In their younger years, she and Orville enjoyed going dancing on Saturday evenings with their great group of friends. She attended Galum Presbyterian Church in rural Pinckneyville until 1970. After a brief period attending Denmark Baptist Church, Doris was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church in Pinckneyville for the remainder of her life.
Doris is survived by her son, David (Nancy) Bigham of Pinckneyville, IL; daughter, Janice (Gregg) Lamb of Hermann, MO; six grandchildren, Julie Lamb of St. Louis, MO, Matthew (Nicolette) Bigham of Waterloo, IL, Rebecca (Matt) Norton of Virginia Beach, VA, Kelsey (Chad) Reynolds of Nashville, TN, Kyle Lamb of St. Louis, MO, and Alexis Bigham of Nashville, TN; four great grandchildren; Theo Bigham, Charlotte Bigham, Parker Reynolds, and Harrison Reynolds; and several cousins, nieces, and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her husband, parents, and four brothers: Everett, Lester, Dean, and Nelson.
Visitation and funeral services will be held at the First Baptist Church in Pinckneyville on Thursday, September 12, 2024. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and the funeral service will begin at 11:00 a.m. with Dr. Jay Lowder officiating. Interment will be in Galum Presbyterian Cemetery, Pinckneyville, IL, where Doris will be laid to rest next to her husband.
Memorial donations may be made to the Perry County 4-H or PCHS Education Foundation.
Pyatt Funeral Home, Pinckneyville, IL has been entrusted with arrangements.
What’s your fondest memory of Doris Louise?
What’s a lesson you learned from Doris Louise?
Share a story where Doris Louise's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Doris Louise you’ll never forget.
How did Doris Louise make you smile?