Contributions to the tribute of Richard Bigler

R

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

He was about 83, tall and dapper and he wanted a Lincoln Town Car I had just purchased. How much do you want for that Black Lincoln?... he asked me. A Lot, I said, how about 3 grand? Can you take Payments if I put enough down? He was vaguely familiar but I couldn't quite place him. From YOU? Certainly I can take payments. He shelled out 6 crisp 100 dollar bills and said... And, I will pay you 150 a month for the next 16 months... I paused and said...so you don't want to pay interest eh??...His eyes sparkled like a man who is in love as he gazed at the car... I love that car he smiled...OK, Sure why not, let me write it up... That began a friendship with Richard who would come and give me his payment at the first of every month like clock work. I realized that Richard was a holdover from a bygone day when how a man dressed and the car he drove had to fit the image he needed in his business. Richard was a true wheeler dealer. After about two months it hit me where I knew him. I had dated his daughter Stacy when I was a sophomore in high school, at least we had gone to a few stake dances together and I had seen him a time or two as a much younger man when calling on his daughter. He told me that he had been buying and selling properties most of his life, but he was always most excited about his latest deals... his current project was to sell enormous amounts of coal to the Chinese that would bring in millions in profit once they arrived to sign the deal. Over the next 8 years I sold him a few other vehicles and had numerous opportunities to go to various places to disable his security system so his car would start. We would meet for lunch at Jim's or McDonald's from time to time, and if he ever needed a a few extra bucks for a trip to go bid on leases or acquire some land he always asked if he could delay his payment for a week or so...Sure...whenever ya can I would tell him... and I always got the payment exactly as promised. As he got older his ability to drive at night became a problem and after he clipped at police car's back bumper and failed to navigate a tight turn resulting in a fender bender. They canceled his insurance and he needed some help finding a company that would cover him... That worked for about a year...then he decided to move his motor home in its storage lot and couldn't stop before colliding with the one across the lot. He always called me at such times...ever since he'd locked his keys in his car and I had broken in to retrieve them, I had become his go to guy when life went pear shaped on him. He phoned me a few months ago to show me his new Explorer he'd purchased after totaling his Lincoln and crashing his Excursion... I think I have to keep it parked until I can get new insurance he confided in me. I'll have to go to church closer to home than my favorite ward up in Highland...... I couldn't help but admire his determination at the age of 91 to just keep living life on his own terms. Any deals cookin'? I would ask him...I think I am going to move south and bring my daughter over her from the Philippines... I bought a new Motor home so we can see the Parks and I have my sights set on a spread down near Cedar City... We talked as we always did. I just loved shootin' the breeze with him. He often bought me sport coats or nice ties like those he liked to wear... Something I would wear on a sales call but not what I would wear to climb under his car to see if I could unhook the piece of fencing he had run over... My phone would ring and he would invite me to come see him...I would often find him sitting in the shade during the summer at the rodeo grounds in Pleasant Grove just enjoying the view of the mountains and sipping on his bottled water. Last month I dropped by to see him and found him working on a new project, but at 91, his step had slowed and I wondered how much longer he could live alone. So it was not unexpected when I got a call last week, informing me that he had passed away, and that they would be having a grave side service at the Park City Cemetery today at 12. I drove up to pay my respects to a wonderful friend and an extraordinary man... When I arrived I found his flag draped Casket sitting beneath a canopy high up the snow covered hillside along the north edge of where the grave stones end and where the mountain begins. As a Navy veteran of the Korean war he had a proper military honor guard, the playing of Taps and the presentation of the flag was truly moving. He told me that when he died he would probably have few of his friends at his funeral because they "were all gone" Beside his Son and daughter's family there were a few ward members from Highland, His last Bishop, and a couple friends and myself. The air was crisp and clear but not cold. and the Music chosen, The Battle Hymn of the Republic recorded by the Tabernacle Choir rang out over the newly fallen snow...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHqF9FYp5UE There were a few words spoken by those in attendance and the Bishop gave a beautiful tribute to Richard. I am so pleased to have known him... Richard Bigler... a fine man and a friend I will surely miss... I can just imagine the deals he is putting together now on the other side... My deepest sympathy for the loss those who love him must feel...

R

Randy Olsen posted a condolence

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

I know that you will miss Richard, I certainly will. I met him about 10 years ago and was privileged to participate in his Ordination to the priesthood. During the subsequent years, I saw him always reaching out a friendly hand to those attending church and never complaining about life, but enjoying it. May the Lord bless you with the happy memories you have of him.

B

The family of Richard Bigler uploaded a photo

Thursday, February 15, 2018

In loving memory of

Richard

1927 - 2018