Betty Jane Bigler, born April 3, 1937, passed away on December 13, 2019, as the result of an automobile accident. The fourth of five children born to Alva Marion and Leona May Powers, Betty was born and raised on the family farm north of Garland. She would attend school at Norris until it closed in 1953 before graduating from Chilhowee in 1955. After graduation, she would live and work in Kansas City as a civilian employee of the U.S. Army. Betty moved to Clinton after marrying Henry Charles Bigler in March 1958. Together they would raise nine children.
Other than the short time spent in Kansas City, Betty was a lifelong Henry Countian with roots as deep as any with many of her ancestors part of the earliest settlement of the county. Known by many as the "Tupperware Lady", she was a Tupperware saleswoman for over 40 years, managing her own unit known as the Busy B's. She also spent countless hours sewing clothes for her children and others and would later design and sew many beautiful quilts, many of which were donated to various organizations. Betty was a member of First Baptist Church, Clinton and sang in the adult choir and Spirit Lifters choir. She also helped with children's choir and youth choir in her younger years. Betty also made many outfits for the youth choir and vests for the Spirit Lifters. She attended until her health no longer permitted.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents and husband Henry, who passed away in November 2018. She was also preceded in death by siblings, Anna May Crooks, Marian Ruth Childers, and Earl Gene Powers.
Betty is survived by her sister, Doris Fields and her husband Elmer as well as sister-in-law, Mary Alice Tadlock. Additionally, all nine children survived including, Julie Morgan (Marty), Jane Ballou (Steve), Bruce, Brian, Melody Paddock (Kelly), Shawn, Tristan (Jessica), Travis (Dara), and Lindley (Amanda), all of Clinton. She is also survived by eighteen grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren. A great-grandchild, Andra May Turner passed away in 2005. She is also survived by numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews as well as in-laws Raymond Bigler, Mildred Hager, and Bob Howard.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Vansant-Mills Funeral Home, Clinton, Missouri.
