Barbara Daynes Bigler

Barbara Daynes Bigler passed away peacefully the evening of Tuesday, August 8, 2023. She was born May 20, 1929, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her parents are Joseph Donald Daynes and Radia Parkinson Larson. Barbara spent her childhood days growing up in Salt Lake, and attending the Salt Lake public schools. She graduated from East High school in 1947, and graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in Elementary Education in 1951. Barbara later returned to the University of Utah and earned her Master’s degree in Elementary Education. She was honored to be an Adjunct Professor at the U of U.

In 1951, Barbara married David Louis Bigler in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. As a couple, they moved to Cleveland, Ohio, for employment and Barbara taught school in the Cleveland School District. Their first child, a daughter they named Laura, was born in 1956 while there in Cleveland, Ohio.

After returning to Salt Lake City, their second child, a son named Mark, was born in 1960. Barbara and David were later divorced and Barbara continued to teach in Granite and Salt Lake School Districts. Barbara retired well into her 80’s after teaching for more than 50 years, and continued to stay in touch with some of her students.

Many of Barbara’s favorite times were spent at the Daynes family cabin at Solitude in Big Cottonwood Canyon. She loved being out in nature with her children and family members. It was a peaceful and happy place to walk among the pine trees in the mountains with the sound of the river. She enjoyed watching and learning about different types of birds with her father, and often went with him on his birding expeditions.
Barbara also enjoyed square dancing, and she liked to meet new people as she danced. She liked the outfits and had an extensive collection of beautiful skirts, tops, and petticoats.

As the years went by, grandchildren and great-grandchildren came into her life. Barbara loved to play with the kids at her home, and swim with them in the pool at the Three Fountains East club house. The children all called her “Grammie,” or “Graham Cracker.” She kept her refrigerator and freezer well stocked with treats, popsicles, and ice cream for the kids. She also kept a large assortment of pool toys for the children to use.
Barbara loved to travel, and went on several fun trips. She visited South America, Canada, Hawaii, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Scotland, Ireland, England, France, and Italy. Her last trip was a cruise to Turkey and Greece. She wanted to go to the fjords in Norway and visit Antarctica, however she was unable to go due to health issues.

Barbara is survived by her children, Laura Gae (R. Kim) Bleiweiss, and Mark Daynes Bigler. She has 4 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Marian (F. Jackson) Millet. Barbara is preceded in death by her brother, Joseph Richard Daynes (Yvonne), and sister Radia Jean (Sherwin M.) Maeser.

Funeral Services will be held from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM Saturday, August 19, 2023, at the Eastridge Ward located at 5235 South Wesley Road, Murray, Utah. There will be a viewing the night before from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the ward, and the morning of the service from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM.