Bill Bigford

Funeral Services at Union Valley Baptist Church, Randlett, OK, Saturday, June 5, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. with burial in the Walters Cemetery. Visitation on Friday evening from 6-8pm at Hart-Wyatt Funeral Home Chapel in Walters, OK. Memorial Donations can be made to P.E.T.S. Clinic of Wichita Falls at petsclinic.org

Willie James Bigford, Sr. was born to Lestal Leanis and Icey Bendy (Walker) Bigford on April 15, 1944 at Walters, OK and departed this life at his home in Cookietown, OK on June 1, 2021 at the age of 77 years, 1 month and 17 days.

Bill grew up in the Taylor Store Community east of Randlett, OK. He married Iletha Louise Herring on August 4, 1961 at Central Baptist Church in Burkburnett where they made their home. In 1965 they moved to the Santa Fe, TX area where he worked as a union carpenter with the Local 973. Upon retirement, the couple returned to Oklahoma to be of help to Bill’s mother, making Cookietown their home in 2001.

Bill was a member of Union Valley Baptist Church. He enjoyed fishing, gardening, working in the yard, raising his chickens, and spending time with his grandkids.

He was preceded in death by his parents, L.L. and Icey; a son, Johnnie Lester Bigford; a grandson, Noah Adam Walker-Gilmore; 5 brothers, Earl, Carl, David, Shorty and Johnny Wayne Bigford; a sister, Nona Bartley; and 2 brothers-in-law, David Dixon Sr. and Chalie Herring.

Bill is survived by his wife, Iletha Bigford of the home; a daughter, Teletha Hunt and Kenneth of Waurika, OK; a son, Willie Bigford and Tina of Bremond, TX; a daughter-in-law, Lana Bigford of Santa Fe, TX; 2 sisters, Gracie Jans and Ed of Burkburnett, TX and Betty Litteken of Wichita Falls; a sister-in-law, Theresa Dixon of Denixon, TX; 10 grandchildren and spouses, Brandie and Jim Cargile, Jacob and Laurin Bigford, Brittanie and Brady McGee, Chelsea Jaramillo, Taylor Greenwald, Keletha and Matthew Buchanan, Dalton Jaramillo, Ashby and Laira Gilmore, Kamie Gilmore, and Brooke Bigford; 14 great grandchildren and 1 on the way.