Butch Wiggins

Grover “Butch” Cleveland Wiggins, age 70, of Natchitoches, Louisiana passed away on Friday, October 16th, 2015 surrounded by his loving wife, children and family at CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini hospital in Alexandria, Louisiana. Butch was born to Mary Louise Ferrell Wiggins and Hazen Bert Wiggins, Sr. on May 15th, 1945 in Compton, California, where he lived for a brief time before his family settled in Vidalia, Louisiana. Butch grew up in a large family, where he was an accomplished athlete, musician and hunter, all activities he passed down to his own children. He was a funny and popular student, graduating from Vidalia High. Butch attended Northwestern State University and made his home in Natchitoches, Louisiana. Butch was known to many in the community as a salesman. His family knew him to be a loving spouse, father, grandfather, uncle and brother. He is survived by his devoted wife, Cynthia Bagwell Wiggins; children, Van Campbell Wiggins and his wife, Lisa, of Natchitoches, Louisiana; Wendy Wiggins McCoy and her husband, Doug, of Rowlett, Texas; Sandy Wiggins Long and her husband, Justin, of Natchitoches, Louisiana; and Brandon Wiggins Stoker of Shreveport, Louisiana; step-children Carey Galyean and his girlfriend, Rebecca Griggs of Jackson, Tennessee; Brian Galyean and his wife, Kim, of Natchitoches, Louisiana; and Joel Kaufman, and his girlfriend, Shannon Herring, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; grandchildren include, Kathryn, Nicholas, Thomas, Daniel and Victoria Wiggins of Natchitoches, Louisiana; Allison and Nathan McCoy of Rowlett, Texas; Liam Conn and Nina Long of Natchitoches, Louisiana; Rylee, Madison and Kaitlin Galyean of Jackson, Tennessee; and, Randy and Gregory Galyean of Natchitoches, Louisiana. Butch’s siblings: Hazen “Bert” Wiggins, Jr. and his wife Barbara of Monroe, Louisiana; Katherine “Katty” Wiggins Williams of McKinney, Texas; Betty Wiggins of Seattle, Washington; William “Billy” Wiggins and his wife, Marti, of Pass Christian, Mississippi; and Brenda Wiggins Morgan of Natchitoches, Louisiana. He is also survived by his three aunts Catherine Rose Ferrell Haley, Ella French Ferrell Atkins and Novice Wiggins Smith and many nieces and nephews who loved him dearly. He is preceded in death by his parents and infant daughter, Heidi Anne Wiggins. A celebration of life will be held at 12 noon Monday, October 19, 2015 at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches, Louisiana with William “Billy” Wiggins to officiate the ceremony. Interment will follow at Memory Lawn Cemetery of Natchitoches. The family will receive friends from 10 am until the time of service on Monday the 19th at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home. Pallbearers are Nicholas Wiggins, Thomas Wiggins, Jeff Wiggins, Mike Woodard, Van Barker, and Doc Koolar. Honorary Pallbearers are Nathan McCoy, Daniel Wiggins, Liam Conn, C.W. Weeks, Robert Miller, J.R. Guillory, Derrell Strother, and John Posey. The family would like to extend their appreciation for the care that Butch received from the medical team at St. Francis Cabrini hospital. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.