Mary Ann Bigham's Obituary
Mary Ann Bigham grew up in Del Rio, Texas with her parents, Fred and Nettie Draeger, and older brother and sister, Fred and Virginia. When she was a young girl, her family moved to Salinas, CA where her father was in the military and her mother went on to work in a doctors office.When she was just 18 years old, she married Howard Hendrix and had two children Russell and Lori. Though this did not work out all families stayed close. While working at KCTY a radio station she met and fell in love with the owner Clair Bigham. They were married in 1968 and stayed married, 43 years, until his death in 2011.She was an avid painter, a fantastic cook, a great wife and mother. Friends including Aldo and Alberta Ciani, Ernie and Tia Magini and Joe, among a few were often seen at her house and on vacation with her. Though she did not need to, she always worked and, upon moving to Coronado worked, in many capacities at the famous Hotel Del Coronado for management and the owners until her early retirement.Though she was a terrible swimmer and was afraid of the water she spent most of her life on or near the water since her husband loved to swim, fish, all boating activities and a lived in a house on the water until he passed away. Not actually an outdoor person, she was a very social person and had many friends who were always on the go with her and Clair in the mountains, on lakes, cruises, and exploring California and beyond.Mary Ann and Clair always did things a little differently. This was never so apparent as it was in her continued relationship with her ex-husband’s family. She loved Papa and Grandma Gert who raised her son Rusty. She and Clair both loved Marilyn and Al Janes (ex sister n law) and were so impressed with their children Jay and Scott. In addition, they both were completely head over heels for her niece Stacey Sanchez. They loved her spontaneous joy in life and Mary Ann could see she was Clair’s kindred spirit.Mary Ann above all loved being a grandmother. She went rafting down the Colorado River, hot air ballooning, and up to the snow with her grandson Clint. She watched the “Golden Girls”, went boating, went to Disneyland, and saw her granddaughter Taylor ride horses in Del Mar. Even though she regretted she could not do more with them, her son’s boys, Dale, Justin, and Nicholas were always loved by her.Mary Ann would say she had a wonderful life. She found a partner who loved her kids as his own and took her on many adventures In recent years she appreciated the reconnection with her sister and the trips she took to come see her with her great friend Ernie. She loved her brother Fred and thought about him to the end.Yes, Mary Ann would say she did indeed have a wonderful life.
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