Biggs, Joyce Kathleen “Katy”

Joyce Kathleen “Katy” Biggs

DALTON- Joyce Kathleen “Katy” Biggs, died Monday October 4, at Wooster Community Hospital.

A celebration of Katy’s life will be held on Sunday, October 10, 2021 at 4:30 p.m. at the Dalton Presbyterian Church, 163 W. Main St., Dalton, OH, 44618 with Pastor Sally Fusek officiating. A private burial will take place at Dalton Cemetery.  Family will receive friends from 2 p.m. until time of service on Sunday.  Considering the Covid virus and the safety of all who attend, the family is suggesting the use of facial coverings while in the church.  Online obituary and guest registry are available at  www.zakmonbarrenfh.com.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Dalton Presbyterian Church, PO Box 306, Dalton, 44618 or the Cassandra “Sandy” Biggs Memorial Scholarship at Wayne County Community Foundation, 517 N. Market Street, Wooster, OH   44691.  Checks should be made out to the Wayne County Foundation with the Sandy Biggs Memorial Scholarship Fund in the memo.

Katy was born February 1, 1933 in Tiverton Center, Ohio to Jesse Edwin Tarrh and Linnie Fisher Tarrh. She also had a stepfather, Oscar Perry Rodgers, after her father died and her mother remarried.   She grew up on a family farm in Knox and Coshocton Counties.

She married Ned C. Biggs on June 17, 1951.  They moved to New York while Ned served at Sampson Air Force Base, and had their first child, Cassandra Gay Biggs in 1952.  Shortly after they moved to Dalton in 1955, where Ned took a teaching job at Dalton High School, their second child, Jeffrey Lynn Biggs was born in 1957.

Katy was a member of the Dalton Presbyterian Church, where she has been a choir member for over 55 years.  She served on the Dalton Planning Committee for many years, as well as the zoning committee.  She was a member of Dalton Friends of the Library and a United Way volunteer.

In 1977 Katy received her Real Estate license and has been a realtor for the past 45 years, serving on local committees – legislative, educational, professional standards as well as the Board of Directors, and President of the Wayne County Board of Realtors.   Unfortunately, a surprise reception recognizing and honoring her 45 years was planned for October 8.  She was a million-dollar lister many times.

She served on the Ohio Board of Realtors two years as a Director, sat on the Education Committee, and was Chairperson of the GRI Committee. She was a graduate of the Realtor Institute.

She served on the Wooster Chamber of Commerce board, the Wooster Growth Committee for several years.  She was appointed to a task force on Fair Housing by then Mayor Clyde Brenneman.  She was Chairperson of Main Street Wooster.  Katy was a current member of the Wayne County League of Women Voters.

She is survived by son, Jeff (Cindy) Biggs of Wooster; grandchildren, Michael (Leigh) Pete of Highlands Ranch, Colorado and their children, Owen and Emma, Brian (Hayley) Pete of Valrico, Florida and their children, Aniston, Dylan and Camden; son-in-law, Phil (Barb) Pete of Brandon, Florida; sister, Patty (Don) Cornelius of Utica, Ohio; nephew, Dan (Angie) Cornelius of Utica, Ohio; sister-in-law Karen (Bill) Haley of Orrville and nephews, Doug, Jason, Jim and Jon Haley.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ned Biggs in 2005, and daughter Sandy Pete in 2000.

The family would like to thank her many good friends in Dalton that made her living in her home in Dalton possible due to the caring community and acts of kindness practiced every day.

(Zak-Thacker & Monbarren, 330-828-2536)