Bigger, Mildred Pauline 'Polly'

Mildred Pauline “Polly” Bigger, 87, of Lisbon and Mount Vernon, died Thursday, April 12, 2012 in the Dennis & Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy, Hiawatha. Polly's funeral will be 3 p.m. Sunday at Morgan Funeral Choices, Mount Vernon, by Pastor Andy Majorins. Her family will greet friends Sunday after 2 p.m. until service time. Burial in Lisbon Cemetery.

Polly is survived by her children, Ronald (Rita) of Tonawanda, N.Y., Judy Askew, Mount Vernon, and Chris (Eric) Larsen, Lisbon. Polly is also survived by her grandchildren, Darin, Monica, Chad, Amanda, Elizabeth, Ann, and Jennifer; and 20 great-grandchildren and another one on the way.

Preceding Polly in death were her parents; husband, Harry; brother, Prentis; sister, Joni; and grandson, Mark.

Polly was born May 29, 1924, in Calcasieu Parish, La., the second child of Aubrey and Azalee Dunham. She graduated on her 17th birthday from Fair Park High School in Shreveport. Polly married Harry Bigger, April 16, 1944 in Yuma, Ariz. Harry died January 31, 1992. After World War II, they made their home in Mount Vernon where Harry received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Cornell College. They moved to Shreveport in 1950 and returned to Lisbon in 1963, where they bought Stahl's Greenhouse. They owned and operated Bigger Flower Shop and Greenhouse in Lisbon and Mount Vernon. Polly was an active member of the Mount Vernon United Methodist Church.

Family was very important to Polly and Harry. She had a passion for reading and loved to relate stories of her family and heritage. Polly learned Southern cooking from her mother, grandmother, and her aunts and, “We all enjoyed it!”

Memorials in Polly's name may be directed to Dennis & Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy, Hiawatha, American Cancer Society, and Shriners Hospitals for Children.

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Published April 14 in The Gazette