Garnet Clarice Bigger 95th

BIGGER 95th

Garnet Bigger celebrated her 95th birthday with all of her children, seven grandchildren and 14 of 15 great-grandchildren on March 6, 2016 with a reception. Family came from Michigan, Maryland, Oregon and Washington to share in the Irish-themed party at the Walla Walla University Church Fellowship Hall. A special treat was having a bagpiper come play some tunes.

Garnet was born March 4, 1921, to Allen and Alberta McCoy in Yakima, Wash., the second of four children. In 1941, she married Forrest Bigger, and together they raised their family of four in southern Oregon.

To help put their children in church school, Garnet worked for the state of Oregon in the unemployment office for many years. She retired to be able to travel with her husband. When they spent several months in Ecuador on a mission assignment they drove through Mexico and Central America on their way. She also traveled in Europe, New Zealand, the South Pacific, Australia and the Caribbean.

Forrest passed away in 2005 but Garnet's love of travel carried on. She celebrated her 90th birthday on a cruise with family through the Panama Canal, and toured Ireland and Scotland when she was 92. That last trip was a dream-come-true as she wanted to see where her ancestors came from.

Her children are Darold and Barbara Bigger of Walla Walla, Wash.; Carolyn and Larry Evans of Laurel, Md.; Rick and Marty Bigger of Saginaw, Mich.; Sandi and Rick Carlson of Everett, Wash.; 7 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.