Fred Biggs, 80

Fred Biggs, 80, of Sedalia, died Sunday, July 6, 2014, at Country Club Care Center in Warrensburg.
He was born January 23, 1934, south of Nelson, MO, son of Clarence and Anna Elizabeth Caton Biggs.
He attended Postal, Ridge Prairie and Nelson schools, moving to Sedalia while a fourth grader and went to Whittier. He graduated from Smith-Cotton High School in 1952.

On June 11, 1954, at First Baptist Church in Sedalia, he married Ada Louise Durrill, who survives of the home.

He worked at Howard Roberts Grocery and Tempel-Stephens Grocery on West Main in the late 1940s. He also worked at the old Liberty Theatre while in high school as well as Heynen Monument Company for one summer. He worked one year at the first Bing's U.S. Supermarket, 11th and Limit. He also worked for seven years at National Engineering and Manufacturing Company on East 16th as a spot welder.

He worked for 55 years at Heckart Funeral Home as a funeral director and for nine years drove the ambulance that the funeral home operated.

He served nine years in Battery C, 128th Field Artillery Battalion, Headquarters Company, 35th Infantry Division. He began as a radio telephone operator and transferred to cook. When he finally retired he was Mess Sergeant and was a Sergeant First Class. He also participated in a Judo class at Whiteman AFB. Other training received was at Ft. Leonard Wood, Camp Ripley in Minnesota, Camp McCoy in Wisconsin and Camp Guernsey in Wyoming. He participated in the quelling of the Missouri prison riot in Jefferson City.

From 1967 to 1973, he worked for National Life and Accident Insurance Company for five and a half years as an agent and also as staff manager.

He was president of Civic Club Council one year, was a member of Sedalia Knife and Fork Club where he was president for a year, was a longtime member of Sedalia Noonday Optimist where he had served three years as president and one year as Lt. Governor of Optimist International. He was a charter member of Sedalia chapter of Ducks Unlimited.

He was a member of First Baptist Church in Sedalia, joining when he was baptized at age 20. In early years, he was superintendent of a junior department. He sang in the sanctuary choir and sang in a men's quartet called the Deacon's Four for many years. He was ordained a deacon in 1968, serving as chairman of deacons, and also served on a pulpit selection committee as chairman. He was also a member of a music youth director committee. At times he helped usher at church.

Fred was elected to the office of Pettis County Coroner in 1980 and began his duties January 1, 1981, serving until December 31, 2004. He attended 20 hours of death investigation training each year as well as other special training offered during his 24 years as coroner.  He was a member of the Missouri Coroner's and Medical Examiner's Association.

He was a member of the coffee club at Hardees east and the once a week group at North 65 Cafe on Tuesdays for breakfast.
He and his wife loved to travel the western states, especially the Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park areas. He was an avid photographer and gardener. He also enjoyed duck hunting and fishing. He and his wife loved going to Branson. He enjoyed sending out cards of cheer to friends and giving out gloves during cold times of the year.

Although it was a long time ago, he was always proud of serving as a "Patrol Boy" at Whittier School.

In addition to his wife of 60 years, survivors include a brother, Martin Biggs, of Sedalia; and a sister, Margaret Forrest, of Dublin, OH; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Warner Biggs; and two sisters, Maurine Gore and Reba Scott.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 9, at Heckart Funeral Home, with the Rev. Marlin Brown officiating.
Casket bearers will be Herschel Cantrell, William Rabourn, Ed Kirby, John Higgins, John Schwenk and John DeGonia.
Honorary bearers will be Hardees east coffee group, First Baptist Church deacons, Sedalia Noonday Optimist Club, Pettis County Sheriff's Department, Sedalia Fire Department, Pettis County Fire Department and local Highway Patrol troopers.

Burial will be in Crown Hill Cemetery, with honors by the Sedalia Police Honor Guard.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday at Heckart Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions are suggested to First Baptist Church.

Condolences may be offered at www.heckartfuneralhome.com.