Leon Bigler, 79, passed away unexpectedly in the early morning hours of Sunday, Aug. 7, 2016, from complications of a farming accident that occurred two days earlier. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 13, at the Snowflake Main Street Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with Bishop Shea Flake officiating. Viewings will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 12, and from 9 to 10 a.m. on Saturday in the Relief Society Room at the chapel prior to the services. Burial will be at the Snowflake Cemetery. Leon was born March 12, 1937, in Snowflake, the fourth child of the late William Kenneth and LaRue (Stratton) Bigler. He lived his whole life in Snowflake except when he was 6, his family moved to Mount Pleasant, Iowa, where they farmed 160 acres and leased 500 acres to run cattle on for six years. He graduated from Snowflake High School in 1955. He served a mission for the LDS church from 1957 to 1959 in South Texas. After returning from his mission he married his forever sweetheart, Barbara Jean Cantrell, on June 25, 1959. By trade Leon was a heavy machinery mechanic. He retired after 36 years with Southwest Forest Industries in 1999. He devoted his life to his wife, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, friends and neighbors, but most importantly to his Father in Heaven. Leon had a strong testimony of Jesus Christ and of His divinity; he often expressed his gratitude for the atonement and his knowledge of the resurrection. He loved being a farmer and harvesting the fruit of his labor. He loved to serve others and work in the temple. He had a passion and love for horses. His greatest joy came from spending time with his family; he especially loved to play and sing with his great grandchildren. He has left a legacy of love, devotion and faith to his six children, 21 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Nora Jean (Bigler) Shaw; his son, Jason Leon Bigler; and his grandsons, Ryan Taft Hatch and James Randall Hatch. Survivors include his wife, Barbara Bigler; his four daughters, Darlene (Keith) Merrill of Snowflake, Karyn (Gary) Ault of Washington State, Shanna VanWinkle of Snowflake and Michelle (Duane) McWilliams of Mesa. Silver Creek Mortuary of Taylor was in charge of the arrangements.
