Mary Alice (Fike) Pigg |
| Posted 2008-09-04 by Pat Wilson |
| Mary Alice Pigg Arizona native and Tempe icon, Mary Alice (Fike) Pigg, passed away on Friday, October 21, 2005, at the age of 95. Her caring, compassion and generous spirit will always be remembered by her family, friends and the hundreds of children she influenced over an illustrious 35 year teaching career in the valley. The Fike family came to the Arizona Territory in 1898. Mary Alice was born to Carrie Elizabeth (MATKIN) FIKE and Freeman Charles Manuel FIKE in Tucson prior to statehood in 1910. Two years later the family moved to Phoenix where Mary Alice grew up and attended Garfield and Monroe Elementary Schools, and Phoenix Union High School. She graduated from Phoenix College in 1930, Arizona State Teachers College (now ASU) in 1931 and also earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Arizona State College (ASU) in 1942. Over the course of three-and-a-half decades she would teach, mentor, aid and inspire children from all backgrounds and cultures. Her influential education career began at the "old" Washington School in Phoenix and continued at Cartwright, Lowell, Monroe, Grant, McKinley and Faith North schools. She also taught at Rural School in Tempe and in Guadalupe. She married Joseph Wood PIGG in 1934, and together, they built "Joe Pigg's Eat & Drink" restaurant on the northeast corner of University Dr. and College Ave. in Tempe. They were blessed with three daughters, JoAnne, Mary Lynn and Jalia; their "three little Piggs." In 1955, Special Education became her passion. The love and caring Mary Alice shared with her students throughout her teaching career was only magnified as she taught and cared for these children with special education needs. Her retirement in 1972 was only the beginning of a new, always exciting career as "Grandma's Taxi & Pantry Service" for her six grandchildren. Mary Alice also stayed active in her church and community. She was a devout Christian and long-time member of the Tempe Church of Christ. Her love of children manifested itself in her work with the Tempe Aggies 4-H Club, which she helped found, and Sunnydale Children's Home Auxiliary. Her love of Arizona and her hometown was evident in her long-time involvement with the Tempe Historical Society, Tempe Historical Museum, and the Tempe Old Settler's Association. She was a proud Sun Devil and a member of the ASU Alumni Golden Circle. In addition to following ASU sports, she loved the ASU Marching Band, the Phoenix Suns, Arizona Diamondbacks and other valley sports teams. In 1985, Mary Alice was recognized with a Tempe All-American Woman, and she was honored as a Tempe Legend by the Tempe Historical Society in March 2004. This year, Mayor Hugh Hallman declared April 13, 2005, as "Mary Alice Pigg Day" for the City of Tempe. She is now in the presence of the Lord and reunited with many loved ones and friends. She was preceded in death by her beloved sister, Elizabeth Jayne (FIKE) CRAIG; her husband Joseph Wood PIGG; her mother Carrie Elizabeth (Matkin) Fike, her father Freeman Charles Manuel Fike; Foster daughters Mary Helen (Martinez) Pena, Ruth Ann Edmund and foster sons Edward Pigg and Bobbie Franey. She is survived by her three daughters, Dr. JoAnne Pigg, Lynn Younger (Warden Williams) and Jalia Peterson; grandchildren Carrie Younger-Howard (Michael), Craig Younger (Sharyn), Randy Williams, Stacy Williams, Tad Crowe (Nicki), Scott Crowe (Gaynelle), Clark Crowe (June) & Kenny Crowe (Anna); great-grandchildren Jasper, Bronwyn, Avalon & Ainsley Younger-Howard, Matthew, Ryan & Hannah Young, Nyla & Hannah Williams, Crystal Crowe Vansino (Joe), Allyson Crowe Perkins, Ashley, Joseph & Corey Crowe, Dylon & Devon Crowe, Vanessa Johnson, Nichole & Nicholas Neathery, Eli Crowe, Joshua & Kendra Crowe; great-great-grandson Ethan Crowe Vansino; and foster children Betty Martinez Curtis & Willie Bailey. Visitation was at Tempe Mortuary, 405 E. Southern Ave. Memorial Services at Tempe Church of Christ, 2424 S. Mill Ave. Interment at Tempe Double Butte Cemetery, 2525 W. Broadway Rd. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that a memorial gift to one of the following would be meaningful: * Sunshine Acres Children's Home, 3405 N. Higley Rd., Mesa, AZ 85215, (480) 832-2540. * Tempe Historic Preservation Foundation, 315 E. Garfield, Tempe, AZ 85281, (480) 946-2186. * Cook College & Theological School, 708 South Lindon Lane, Tempe, Arizona 85281, (480) 968-9354. Published in The Arizona Republic on 10/26/2005. Mary Alice Pigg, 95, of Tempe, AZ, passed away October 21, 2005. Visitation at Tempe Mortuary, 405 E. Southern Ave. Funeral services were held at the Tempe Church of Christ, 2424 S Mill Ave., with burial at Double Butte Cemetery, Tempe. Memorials may be made in Mary Alice's name to Sunshine Acres or the Tempe Historical Preservation Committee. Published in The Arizona Republic on 10/23/2005. See Also: ASU Memoriams |
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