Gloria Ann Bigej's Obituary
Gloria Ann Bigej
March 13, 1940 – April 18, 2026
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Gloria Ann Bigej (Melum) on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at her home in Canby, Oregon. She was surrounded by loving family. Gloria was born in Oregon City on March 13,1940, to Cecelia and Arnold Melum of Molalla, Oregon. Gloria joined her older brother, Gary, and the family eventually grew to include five more siblings: Judy (Heyerly), Sheryl (Robertson), Arla, Kenny and Donny. As a child and teenager, Gloria excelled at sports and was a member of the Molalla Union High School tennis team. She graduated from MUHS in 1958.
Soon after her graduation, Gloria worked in business before meeting Robert (Bob) Bigej from Canby. They married at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church on May 2,1959 and had four daughters. They raised their family in Molalla, Jennings Lodge and Oregon City. Bob and Gloria joined the family business, “Al’s Fruit and Shrub Center” in 1966.
An avid sports enthusiast, Gloria was a constant presence on the sidelines, cheering on her family. A golf devotee, she began golfing at Arrowhead Golf Club, later becoming a member of the Willamette Valley Country Club in 1996. Gloria competed in the Oregon Women’s Golf Association (OWGA) circuit for several years. She was a devoted fan of the Oregon State Beavers and women’s sports in general. She loved her home and delighted in decorating, cooking, and growing beautiful plants and flowers. She enjoyed playing cards, traveling to golf destinations, and going out to lunch/happy hours with her many friends and family.
Gloria cared deeply about the welfare of children. She volunteered for Friends of Doernbecher for thirty years. Gloria organized and participated in several of Doernbecher’s fundraising activities that helped raise millions of dollars for children in the region. In 2014, she was awarded Volunteer of the Year for her dedication.
Gloria's beautiful legacy lives on through a loving family who share her incredible zest for life. She is survived by her husband Robert, her four daughters: Kristi King (Tim); Karla Schumaker (Ted); Kaeleen Holmgren; and Kim Bigej (Mike King). She was the proud grandmother of seven grandchildren: Liz, Mitchell, Amanda, Kendall, Julia, Karlie, and Nolan. Gloria took immense joy in welcoming her two great-grandchildren in 2024, Ford (son of Julia and Ben Hunter) and Teddy (daughter of Amanda and Zack Burdon). She also leaves behind many beloved nieces, nephews, and dear friends. Gloria was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Gary, and her sister Sheryl.
Service Information:
Memorial Mass Friday, May 29, 2026, St. John the Apostle Catholic Church 417 Washington St., Oregon City, OR 97045
Rosary: 10:30 am
Mass: 11:00 am
Celebration of Life Reception Following at 1:00 pm, The Willamette Valley Country Club 900 Country Club Place, Canby, OR 97013
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made online in Gloria’s name to the Doernbecher Children’s Fund via the https://give.ohsufoundation.org.
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