Fern L. (Bell) Bigley

Fern L. Bigley, 81, of Shippenville, joined her daughter and sisters in Heaven on January 1, 2026.

Born June 11, 1944, in Knox, Fern was the daughter of the late Granville and Bellvie Bell.

Fern graduated from White Memorial High School in Knox. She worked at Bigley Garage in Parker which she owned with her husband. Fern also worked as a caretaker in various home in Clarion and Butler County.

In 1962 Fern married John Bigley Jr. who preceded her in death.

Fern was a member of the Angel Food Ministries in Sligo, New Hope Church in Clarion, and was a past member of the Sligo Presbyterian Church.  She enjoyed cooking, reading her Bible, listening to music, making noodles at church, puzzles, spending time with her family and friends and telling stories about growing up. Fern’s favorite saying was the faith of a mustard seed.  She loved everybody and everybody loved Nana, she will be greatly missed by all.

Loved ones left to cherish Fern’s memory are her children John Bigley of Shippenville, Barry (Karen) Bigley of Clarion, Cindy Bryant of Kissimmee, FL, and Donna (Ken) Geiser of Shippenville; her grandchildren Jennifer (Travis) Nichols of Altoona, Linda “Pooh” (Dillan) Spisak of Kissimmee, Fl, Isaiah “Young Coot” (Heather) Nichols of Clarion, Heather Hondel of Oil City and Andrew Bigley of St. Marys, her great grandchildren Heather and Andrew of Rimersburg, Angel, Henry and Ira of Atlanta, GA and Stevie Bryant of Kissimmee, FL.  Also surviving are a son in law Jim Hondel of Oil City, a special niece Bev Dunkel of Oil City, several other nieces and nephews and two special friends that were like sisters to her Mae Whitley, Shelley Haines and Betty Goughler.

Along with her parents and husband Fern was preceded in death by a daughter Bonnie Hondel; her sisters Sylvia Kuhns and her husband Harold, Helen Cook, Hazel Slaughenhaupt and her husband Art and Anna May Beichner and her husband Mickey and a brother Ed Dunklea and his wife Nancy.

The family will receive friends from Noon to 2 PM and 5 to 7 PM Monday, January 5, 2026 at the McEntire-Weaver Funeral Home, 504 East Penn Ave., Knox, Funeral services will be held at 7 p.m. Monday in the funeral home with Rev. C. Allen Meeker officiating.  Interment will take place at St. Marks Cemetery in Kossuth.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial be made to a cancer support organization of one’s choice.

To view and share photos or leave an online condolence please visit our website at www.mcentire-weaverfuneralhome.com.

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