Kenneth Philip Biggs

Kenneth Philip Biggs, 87, of Murphysboro, passed away peacefully at 5:02 p.m. Sunday, April 5, 2015, at Memorial Hospital in Carbondale, with his family and friends present. Kenneth was born on December 1, 1927, in Granite City, Illinois, to Ernest Biggs and Iva (Lindsey) Biggs. Growing up in Granite City, Kenneth worked at the steel mills. Then he attended Bolivar College in Bolivar, Missouri, Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, OK, and SIU at Carbondale. He was the Biology and General Science Teacher at Murphysboro High School from 1961 to 1993. During the summers, he worked as a researcher at the University of Illinois. Besides always being ready to give a biology lesson, Kenneth had many other interests. He was involved in the Boy Scouts, when his sons were growing up. He was a wood carver and gemologist. With his wife, they hunted and fished together. They went to the Senior Citizens in Carbondale together and he continued to go after his wife passed away. Mr. Biggs was a member of Elm Street Baptist Church in Murphysboro, where he served as music director for many years and then was a very active choir member. He had participated with Barbershop Quartets for many years. He married Barbara Stroup on July 17, 1959, in Granite City, and she preceded him in death on August 4, 1999. He is survived by four children Gary Biggs of 29 Palms, California, David Biggs and his wife Shari Winters-Biggs of Carbondale, Mariann Baratta of Carbondale, and Karen Biggs of Murphysboro; five grandchildren including Alma Baratta, Alysha Baratta, and Kristen Biggs, and three great grandchildren; two sisters Muriel Phelps and her husband Don Phelps of Joplin, MO and Charlene "Dean" Wynn and her husband Jim Wynn of St. Louis, MO; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is survived by his best friends of sixty one years Ray and Maggie Bush. He was preceded in death by one brother Harold Biggs, one sister Vernita Kalert and his parents. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 8, 2015, at Elm Street Baptist Church in Murphysboro, with Rev. Charles Allen officiating, and burial at St. John's Cemetery in Dongola. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Pettett Funeral Home and from 12 noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday at the church. Memorials may be made to Elm Street Baptist Church or Celtic Hospice. For more information, please visit www.pettettfuneralhome.com.

Kenneth Philip Biggs

December 1, 1927 - April 5, 2015