Marita Lynne Bigelow, 79, of Fort Scott, Kansas, passed away Tuesday morning November 30, 2021, at her home. She was born July 20, 1942, in Fort Scott, Kansas the daughter of Preston “Pete” Lafayette and Dorothy Lavella (Pottorff) Barr.

She married Galen C. Bigelow, Sr. on June 7, 1960, in Fort Scott, and he preceded her in death October 8, 2020.

Marita graduated from Fort Scott High School with the Class of 1960 and stayed in Fort Scott until 1970 when they moved to Dodge City, Kansas.

The family lived in Mt. Vernon, Missouri, from 1975 until 1978, moving back to Fort Scott, and then moved to Moran, Kansas in 1981. She and Galen owned and operated Bigelow’s Dairy Spot Restaurant in Moran until 1990 when they moved back to Fort Scott.

Marita worked at Mercy Hospital for seventeen years in the business office as a cashier, retiring in 2008.

She attended Bethel Community Church.

Marita is survived by her children, Michelle McKay and husband Eric, Teresa Fly and husband David, both of Fort Scott, Galen C. Bigelow, Jr. and wife Trena of Elsmore, Kansas, and William “Bill” Bigelow and wife Michelle, of Moran, Kansas; a brother, Joe Barr and wife Rita, of Fort Scott; two sisters, Charlotte Stewart and husband Alan, of Iola, Kansas, and Charlene Keating and husband John, of Fort Scott; a sister-in-law, Janice Barr; eleven grandchildren, twenty-six great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husband Galen, she was also preceded in death by her parents, and a brother, Darrel Barr.

Pastor Ben Heffernan will conduct graveside services at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, December 3, 2021, at the Evergreen Cemetery in Fort Scott, under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the National Kidney Foundation and may be left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, Kansas, 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.