Richard Lee Biggs

Obituary For Richard Lee Biggs

Richard Lee Biggs, a local resident, died on Friday, March 15, 2024, at the age of 87. He was born on June 15, 1936, in Craig, CO to Edgar O. and Ferol (Parkinson) Biggs.

Richard was an avid fisherman. When traveling he could not go past a river, he had to stop and try his luck. Besides fishing, he enjoyed reading, golfing, and hiking. Hiking and climbing the mountains around him was one of his favorite things to do.

Richard and his family moved to Truth or Consequences when he was in elementary school. He graduated from Hot Springs High School in 1954. He attended for one year at Texas Western, El Paso, TX. He transferred to Oklahoma University in his sophomore year and earned his Petroleum Engineering degree in 1958.

Richard reported to his job with Exxon, in Caracas, Venezuela, two weeks after graduating from Oklahoma University. In 1981, Richard retired from Exxon to work his orchid farm full-time and go on more fishing trips. He returned to New Mexico permanently in 1988. Here he pursued his love for traveling and hiking. He met Carmen Wyrick in 1989. Carmen was still employed so they were able to hike our mountains in Sierra County. While here he took up golfing. Fishing wasn’t as exciting as it was in South America, so he traveled to throughout Canada and Alaska. There he was able to do both in addition to exploring. His travels took him to South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, and Hawaii. In 1996, Richard moved to Sheridon, WY where golfed and fished to his heart’s content.

He reunited with Carmen in 2008 and they married in 2009. They moved to Benson, AZ where they built a new house. After living there a couple of years, they decided to move to Creede, CO. He was able to do more fishing in the Rio Grande. Sightseeing was really great, and the wildlife was really abundant, but the cold weather forced them to return to Sierra County in 2017.

Survivors include his wife, Carmen L. Biggs; son, Glenn E. Biggs (Gloria); grandchildren - Ricardo Biggs and Viviana Biggs; stepbrother, Delmas Howe; sisters-in-law – Ann Ortiz, Lucille Lomeland, and Helen Lyon (Ken); brother-in-law, Sonny Ortiz (Rita); several nieces and nephews; and numerous friends.

A Memorial Celebration Service will be held on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at 10:30 A.M. at the First Baptist Church with Pastor Durward Wofford officiating. He will be laid to rest by his parents at Hot Springs Cemetery following the service.