FARMINGTON – Muriel Ashley Bigelow, 95, of Farmington, died Saturday, Aug. 2, at Orchard Park Rehab and Living Center in Farmington.

She was born May 26, 1913, in Springfield, Mass. She was the daughter of Robert L. and Madelyn (Young) Ashley. She attended school in Springfield and graduated from Greenfield High School, Greenfield, Mass. She attended the University of Massachusetts and graduated from Cooley Dickinson Hospital School of Nursing in Northampton, Mass.

In 1936, she married Robert S. Bigelow at Northfield, Mass. Mrs. Bigelow was employed as a public health nurse in Greenfield and Springfield. She served as college nurse at Farmington State Teachers’ College and for many years as public health nurse in Farmington.

After graduating from Farmington State College she taught psychiatric nursing at Augusta State Hospital. She also was instructor and principal of the Maine School of Practical Nursing in Waterville. Before retiring she coordinated the student nursing programs at Thayer Hospital in Waterville.

Mrs. Bigelow was a member of the Maine State Nurses Association and was president of Central District of the Maine State Nurses Association. Appointed by Gov. Curtis, she served five years on the Maine State Board of Nursing. She was a member of the Old South Church in Farmington, where she served as president of the Women’s Fellowship and on the diaconate.

As a volunteer at Franklin Memorial Hospital she served as chairman of the Red Cross Bloodmobile for Franklin County. Her association with the American Red Cross began in 1944 when she taught swimming and water safety to the Girl Scouts in Danbury, Conn. After moving to Farmington, she taught Red Cross courses in first aid and home nursing to students at Farmington State Teachers’ College and to community groups. The Androscoggin Valley of the American Red Cross presented the Clara Barton Award to her for her many years of service as a Red Cross volunteer in Franklin County and other parts of the county.

Her other hobbies included skiing, sailing, fishing, tennis and gardening.

She is survived by three granddaughters, Tracy Ladd and her husband, Harland, of New Vineyard, Barbara Bigelow of Wilmington, Del., and Caren Bigelow Bartalozzie of San Francisco, Calif.; three great-granddaughters, Meghan Ladd Allen and her husband, Chelsea, of New Vineyard, Molly Ladd of Wilton, and Maryann Ladd of New Vineyard; one great-grandson, Robert Ladd of New Vineyard; one step-grandson, Bruce Ladd and his wife, Jaimie, and daughter Madison Ladd of New Vineyard; and one great-great-grandson, Warren Allen of New Vineyard.

She was predeceased by her husband, Robert S. Bigelow; daughter, Elizabeth Bigelow; and son, Robert A. Bigelow.