Richard Lee Bigelow

Richard Lee Bigelow, 85, of Marionville, passed away Monday, Jan. 3, 2022, at Mercy Hospital in Joplin. He was born March 21, 1936, in Marionville, the son of John Harold and Opal Irene (Wells) Bigelow.
Bigelow was a 1954 graduate of Marionville High School and worked at Vaisey Bristol Shoe Factory. He was an entrepreneur investing in real estate and owning a vending route. He was a member of the Buck Prairie Baptist Church.
On Aug. 3, 1987, he married Sharon “Sue” Mooneyham in Miami, Okla.
Bigelow is survived by his wife of 34 years, Sue; four sons, Montie Bigelow (Elaine), of Virginia Beach, Va., Steve Bigelow (Pam), of Moyock, N. C., Ronnie Bigelow  (Cindy), of Lake Gaston, N. C. and Brian Elliott  (Tabitha), of Holt; three daughters, Melissa Teets of Virginia Beach, Julie Forrester (Charles), of Aurora,  and Dana Wright  (Ronny), of Billings; daughter-in-law, Jenny Bigelow of Virginia Beach; three sisters, Carol Hargus of Aurora, Barbara Kean (Carroll), of Mt. Vernon, Eva Brown (Bill), of Joplin; one brother, Johnnie Bigelow of Sedalia; 22 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren; one great-great grandson and several nieces and nephews.
Bigelow was preceded in death by his parents, John, and Opal; son, Harold Bigelow; great-granddaughter, McKinsey Mendez; sister, Joan Wise and her husband, Jack; sister-in-law, Audrey Bigelow and son-in-law, Jim Teets.
A visitation, under the direction of the Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home, in Aurora, was held from 9-10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, at the First Baptist Church in Marionville, with the funeral service that followed at 10 a.m. in the church. Burial followed at Maple Park Cemetery in Aurora.
Memorial donations may be made payable to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, in care of the funeral home.
Online condolences may be shared at www.CraftonCantrellFuneralHome.com.