Leslie Jeanne Cardall Bigler

Leslie was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on October 23, 1952, to Richard Taylor and Elizabeth (Betty) Thiriot Cardall. She has two sisters, Lynne and Leigh, and a brother, Richard. She graduated from Highland High School in 1971. Shortly after starting college at the University of Utah, Leslie accepted a position at Research Accounting and then went on to work for over 30 years at the College of Mines Earth Sciences. She worked under Dean Francis (Frank) Brown as an Administrative Manager and Assistant to the Dean. Each year, Leslie and Frank would work on the college’s budget separately. Afterwards, they would put their heads together to determine where the money should be allocated and would often be only cents apart. Leslie and Frank retired at the same time in 2016. She married Gary Lee Bigler on May 10, 1985. They have two children, Scott and Mike. Her children were Leslie’s whole world and she would do anything for them. In their Foothill neighborhood, Mom was known as everyone’s “second mom” and later a “godmother” to many family and close friends. Leslie left her house open and everyone in the neighborhood would come to visit. The Bigler’s was the “fun house” in the neighborhood. Mom would always cook delicious meals, provide baked goods and treats for all of them. Mom never got mad, she only got even. In her later years, Mom would have described herself as being “average” in height, but her children would say otherwise. Leslie was an avid reader, often reading multiple books in one week. She especially liked historical romance novels. Her children would often joke that she was reading “smut,” and she would cover the scandalous covers with a flowery book jacket. She took a book everywhere she went. Leslie loved everything Disney, especially Mickey Mouse. She was at her happiest at “the Happiest Place on Earth.” She even got in one last trip with her family to Disneyland for her 70th birthday. Leslie loved to travel, especially to Europe. All of her life she collected Madame Alexander Dolls and enjoyed going to doll conventions. She cherished spending time with her family, especially at the Cardall family cabin. She loved sitting on the cabin porch, reading, and feeding the squirrels. She would affectionately call the squirrels her “buddies.” Mom had fun playing cards and was great at Nerts, Sevens, and Tripoley. She enjoyed cooking meals for her family especially Sunday dinner, and she did so for as long as she could. Leslie also enjoyed going to the movies or musicals. She had celebrity crushes on Peter Noone, Yul Brynner, Errol Flynn, Hugh Jackman, The Rock, Thor, Vin Diesel, and Lester Holt. She was a breast cancer survivor. She will always be remembered for her kindness, generosity, and big heart.

The family wishes to thank the caring staff at Home Instead Salt Lake, Canyon Hospice, and The Ridge Foothill for helping take care of our mom over the last year.

All of those she loved and touched deeply, please join us in celebrating her life on Tuesday, July 11 between 6:00pm-8:00pm at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park and Funeral Home, 3401 S Highland Dr. Millcreek, UT 84106. If attending, Leslie asks that you wear pink or anything Disney (especially Mickey Mouse) related - please no formal wear.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to either the Francis H. Brown African Scholarship or Robin’s Wish or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Disease. I am Groot!

https://leakeyfoundation.org/grants/francisbrownfund/

https://www.americanbrainfoundation.org/robins-wish/

https://www.michaeljfox.org/