Sept. 2, 1929-Oct. 4, 2002

PILOT ROCK – Marilyn Ann McLain Bigelow, 73, of Pilot Rock, died Friday, Oct. 4, 2002, at her home.

A private graveside service will be held at the Beaver Creek Cemetery in Paulina on Wednesday at 10 a.m. A memorial service will be held at the First Baptist Church of Prineville on Wednesday at 2 p.m. and a memorial service will be held at the Community Presbyterian Church in Pilot Rock on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Mrs. Bigelow was born Sept. 2, 1929, at Rio Oso, Calif., to Frank James and Hallie May Horswill McLain. She spent her early years in the Marysville area and moved with her family to Harrisburg, Ore., when she was 14.

She graduated from Harrisburg High School in 1946 and from Oregon State College at Corvallis in 1950 with a degree in Physical Education.

On July 9, 1950, she married Richard “Dick” Bigelow. The couple moved to Bend and the new Mrs. Begelow took her first position as a physical education teacher at a Bend elementary school.

In 1953, they moved to Redmond and remained in the Central Oregon area, also living at Terreboone and Prineville, before moving to Burns in 1968. They also lived in other areas of Oregon, including Garibaldi, Heppner, and most recently Pilot Rock where they had been residents since 1996. Mrs. Bigelow held teaching positions in both the Redmond and Garibaldi elementary schools.

As a young girl, she had the opportunity to ride with the Barbara Werth Stables in the Sacramento, Calif., area, beginning a lifelong love of horses and riding. She was an accomplished horsewoman, in both the western and jumping areas. She had served as both princess and queen on the Calapooia Roundup courts and as a princess on the Oregon State College Rodeo Court during her college years. She competed in playdays in the Central Oregon area, winning many trophies and ribbons in barrel racing, pole bending and other events.

It was said she was a remarkable knitter, making garments for family and friends, among them numerous dresses and sweaters for newborns. Eastmoreland Hospital in Portland honored her for her hours of service for the hundreds of booties, caps, and socks she contributed for the patients there.

She was an active member of churches wherever the family lived, including the First Baptist Church in Prineville and Paulina Community Church. She and her husband served in the pastorate of several Oregon churches and were instrumental in the formation of Friendship Baptist Church in Heppner. They recently concluding an interim position at Malheur Butte Baptist Church in Ontario. Mrs. Bigelow loved participating in the women’s missionary circles at the churches, providing tangible acts of service and contributions to overseas missionaries. She was known among her friends and church families as a committed prayer warrior.

Survivors include her husband of 52 years, Dick Bigelow of Pilot Rock; her children, Elly Reynolds of Gresham, Carol Thompson of Oregon City, Clive Begelow of Sisters and Darryl Bigelow of Portland; 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; sister, Hallie Luginsland of Lynnwood, Wash.; brothers, Frank McLain of Mehama, and Clyde McLain Sr., of Brownsville, and numerous other relatives. A sister, Eleanor Johnson and grandchildren, Jamie Bigelow and Kevin Bigelow, preceded her in death.

Memorial contributions may be made to Pendleton Cancer Care, c/o St. Anthony Hospital 1601 S.E. Court, Pendleton, OR 97801.

Burns Mortuary of Pendleton is in charge of arrangements.