Celeste Biggs

Born in Springfield, Massachusetts on December 8, 1942 to Arthur B and Rose Bouford Morin, Celeste Biggs,77, left this world to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ of Nazareth on February 22, 2020. Because of an error at the hospital, Celeste’s birth certificate shows her as Marie Celeste Morin, but she was always known as Celeste and not Marie.

She lived in many states during her life. After graduating from Classical High School in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1960, Celeste attended Barry University in Miami Florida where she majored in nursing for two years before changing her major to dental hygiene and transferring to the University of Bridgeport in Bridgeport Connecticut. She graduated in 1964 and was elected to the National Dental Hygiene Honor Society. It was during “finals week” that she had a chance meeting with Jim Scott, Jr. who was from Detroit and was attending a nearby university. They both went their ways until Jim joined the Coast Guard and was stationed in Connecticut. They reconnected and were married the following year in the Coast Guard Academy Chapel in New London, Connecticut. They eventually made their home in Detroit where their daughter, Theresa Renee, was born.

Celeste did not do well in Detroit due to her health issues, so her doctor recommended they move to Arizona. After finding that Phoenix was just a hot Detroit, they moved to Prescott, Arizona where their son Jim III was born. Celeste’s health improved and they moved to Flagstaff, Arizona so they could attend Northern Arizona University. Both Celeste and Jim attended classes there while Celeste worked as a dental hygienist. Upon Jim’s graduation in forestry, Jim was offered a position at the remote outpost of Blue Ridge Ranger Station located between Flagstaff and Winslow. From there they were transferred to Beaver Creek Ranger Station near Rim Rock, Arizona, then on to Silver City New Mexico where Celeste once again worked as a dental hygienist.

From there they moved to Halfway, Oregon where Celeste opened a health food store and sponsored a homeopathic physician from Portland, Oregon who traveled once a month to Halfway to treat patients in the Halfway area. Celeste eventually sold her store and began another career after receiving a realtor's license. After three years as a realtor, a profession she enjoyed very much, Celeste moved to Longview, Washington to help her son who was a single dad with three young boys.

Upon leaving Longview, Celeste, who was now single, relocated in Boise where she had the opportunity to travel to Louisiana on a Hurricane Katrina relief team sponsored by Calvary Chapel in Boise. It was during this time that she met her future husband, William Biggs. They were married the following year and soon after moved to Midvale, Idaho. Celeste was born in the city, but was always a country girl at heart.

At the age of seven, Celeste’s dad presented her with a bamboo fishing pole. Fishing became another one of her many enjoyments. She took her enjoyment of fishing on her many miles of backpacking trips through the wilderness in the western U.S. and Canada.

She also enjoyed sewing, gardening and cross-country skiing in the mountains above Halfway. One must also mention her “famous” homemade turkey jerky which her family could never seem to get enough of.

She loved her Lord. During her life with Him – especially during her illness – He offered her many opportunities to share Jesus with others and to pray with them. She also loved her family and horses, too. By the time she was three years old, she was riding ponies at the local park in Springfield, Massachusetts. When she got too big for the ponies at the age of five, she began taking riding lessons at a local stable and competed in numerous horse shows at home and in college. Those who knew Celeste would often hear her talk about her bucket list, which included her desire to spend more time with family and to get on a horse and jump hurdles one more time and to make another batch of turkey jerky.

Celeste is survived by her loving husband, Bill; her daughter, Theresa Scott Leija (Jaime) of Hagerman, Idaho; son, Jim Scott III of Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania; a step-daughter, Renae Greene (Mark) of Boise Idaho; 12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her longtime friend and prayer partner, Denise Cairns of Halfway, Oregon. She was preceded in death by her parents and infant twins, John and Joan Scott.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Midvale Idaho Church of Christ, Hope Pregnancy Center, Ontario, Oregon or to the charity of one’s choice through Tami's Pine Valley Funeral Home and Cremation Services, PO Box 543 Halfway, OR 97834. Online condolences may be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com.