Christine (McClain) Bigham

Christine McClain Bigham, 87, passed away peacefully at Heritage Assisted-Living near her home in Yorktown on April 18th, 2025. Born in Morehead, Kentucky, on February 20, 1938, she was the 2nd of 3 children of Chester McClain and Lesta (Jones) McClain. Christine moved with her family to east-central Indiana in 1940 and soon settled in Yorktown. She was active in student government, serving as her class treasurer and was active in the Pep Club and business clubs. She graduated from Yorktown High School in 1956. She enjoyed her schooling, made lifelong friends and continued to associate with former classmates until the last weeks of her life.

Christine married Owen Holland Bigham on April 20, 1957. He passed away in June of 2024 and they were happily married for sixty-seven years.

Early in her adult life she worked as a bank teller at Mutual Home and Savings Association. A few years later she transitioned to Yorktown Schools, where she worked a couple of years as a nurse’s aide, and ultimately ended up serving as secretary in the Yorktown Elementary School front office, retiring after almost 20 years in 1999. She always expressed her appreciation for the students and teachers and administrators she was able to know and interact with during this time.

Christine and Owen faced some difficult pregnancy trials early in their marriage, and they were forced to rely on each other, family members, friends, and their faith in God. Their first three sons were born prematurely and each only lived a few hours. Christine received great medical care from a team of physicians at Ball Memorial hospital, and ultimately, they were able to have two surviving sons, despite also being born prematurely. She always expressed her sincere gratitude for the caring and compassionate attention she received from these physicians. She was most proud in her life of her roles as a wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and took her most joy through the accomplishments of her family.

Christine was a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She volunteered early in her marriage and served throughout her life in various callings and assignments, working with children, youth and the adult women in her congregation. In her later years, she especially enjoyed Temple service and always expressed a sense of fulfillment and peace doing this service. She was a great example to many, especially to her sons.

Christine was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Owen Holland Bigham, three infant sons (David, James & Mark), sister Virginia (McClain) Cox. She is survived by her sons, Thomas Holland (Shauna) Bigham, St. George, Utah, and Jeffrey Wayne (Deborah) Bigham, Chandler, Arizona, nine grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and her brother, James Avery McClain, Yorktown, Indiana.

Family and friends are invited to calling hours from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday April 26 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 4800 W. Robinwood Dr., Muncie, Indiana. The funeral service will be held at 12:00 p.m., also at the church. A brief burial service will follow in Elm Ridge Memorial Park.

Sons Thomas and Jeffrey extend special thanks to Bonnie Lynn and Angie Rutherford for all of the excellent care that they provided to both Christine and Owen over the past year. Also thank you to members of the Muncie 2nd Ward and friends and neighbors who graciously gave service to both of our parents. And finally, a heartfelt thank you to our uncle James Avery McClain for his love, compassion, and dedicated service.

Elm Ridge Funeral Home has been entrusted with her arrangements.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at elmridgefuneralhome.com for the family.