Mary Kay Nelson Bigler

Mary Kay Nelson Bigler, known to her family and friends as Kay, was born October 2, 1936 in Brigham City, Utah, and passed away unexpectedly, but peacefully, surrounded by her children on March 24, 2018 in Bountiful, Utah.  She was a beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, and friend.  She grew up in Snowville, Utah and returned there regularly over the years to visit friends, attend to the graves of loved ones, and relive memories from her childhood.  She married Charles Eugene Bigler in the Logan LDS temple on November 21, 1958.  Together, they had five children: Cindy (Paul) Barlow, Mark (Krista) Bigler, Kayla Jessee, Clair (Cindy) Bigler, and Annette (Shane) Curtis.  From these came 19 grandchildren, with the first great-grandchild expected in August.  The family lived together in Ogden and Logan, Utah, before settling in Bountiful where Kay remained for nearly 49 years.  She graduated from Bear River High School in Garland, Utah, then completed a degree in elementary education at Brigham Young University.  She taught one year in Richmond, Utah before starting her family.  Later, she returned to education, teaching first grade at Oak Hills Elementary in Bountiful for 17 years.  There, she touched the lives of many children and after her retirement she enjoyed running in to former students, many with elementary-age children of their own.  For years, up until her passing, she was a member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers and enjoyed her association with friends in the Femmes de Lettres book club.  She was a lifetime member of the LDS church, serving in the primary, the young women's organization, and various other positions.  In 2000, she served as a missionary with her husband at Cove Fort in central Utah.  She was an example of Christ-like love in everything she did.  She was preceded in death by her dear husband, both her parents, her mother and father-in-law, her three brothers, her sister, two sisters-in-law, and two nephews.  She is survived by her five children and their spouses, her 19 grandchildren, three sisters-in-law, two brothers-in-law, and her dog, Teddy.  She was a kind and gentle soul who will be missed by all who had the good fortune to know her.  
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Friday, March 30, 2018 at the Bountiful 16th Ward, 720 East 550 North, Bountiful. A viewing will be held Thursday evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Russon Mortuary, 295 North Main, Bountiful and Friday morning 9:45-10:45 am at the church prior to services. Mom will be buried next to Dad in the Memorial Lakeview Cemetery in Bountiful.