Elizabeth Sigmon

Elizabeth Sigmon

Elizabeth (Libby) Allen Wise Sigmon, 86, of Hickory, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at Carolina Caring Hospice.

Born October 14, 1938, she was preceded in death by her husband, Rex Glenn Sigmon; and parents, Jack Wise and Mittie Inez (Canipe) Wise.

Libby is survived by two sons, Steven Rex Sigmon (Christal) of Conover and Dr. Michael Richard Sigmon (Kathleen), their two sons and daughter, Alexander Rex Sigmon (Dr. Mariah Sigmon, their son, Michael Alexander and daughter, Emmeline Alice) all of Hickory; son, Christopher Michael Sigmon of Lincolnton; and Mackenzie Koren Sigmon of Hickory; sisters, Mary Robyn Daniels of Sanford and son, Marc of Clarksville, N, Alice Carol Conway (Glenn) of Holly Springs and son, Christopher of Fuquay Varina; brother, John Gary Wise (Gail) of Weatherford, TX; a goddaughter, Abigail Kate Lundy Rybnicek (Jon) of Washington, DC; and special friends, Cindy and Tom Lundy, Joyce and Skip Pearce, Judy Hester, and Beverly and the late Glenn Barger.

A graduate of Claremont Central High School (Hickory High), Libby completed her Bachelor of Arts degree at Lenoir-Rhyne College and both a Master of Arts and Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degrees at Appalachian State University.

Libby began her career in public education with a five-year stint as a nearly full-time substitute teacher for grades one to 12 followed by a year teaching first grade at St. Stephens Elementary; and lastly, she devoted 35 additional years to public education as a guidance counselor, beginning with 10 years at Bunker Hill High School followed by four years at St. Stephens High School and the final 21 years as Catawba County School System's Director of Student Services.

Libby filled a variety of leadership positions throughout her life. Among those were: den mother for her sons' Cub Scout troop, librarian for Viewmont Baptist Church, PTO president at St. Stephens Elementary, board member of several community organizations, chairman of the re-accreditation committee at both Bunker Hill and St. Stephens High Schools, delivering Meals on Wheels approximately six years, and Vice President of the Catawba Valley Quilters' Guild.

Libby traveled extensively with her husband and sons. A favorite destination was Alaska, which they visited some seven different times, even driving the AL-CAN Highway as far as the Artic Circle. They also visited the Grand Canyon multiple times, and once rode the mules down to Phantom Ranch. Together they visited almost all of the National Parks and nearly all fifty states.

Once retired, Libby took up the hobby of quilting and was the recipient of many ribbons for her work. She enjoyed making quilts for family, friends, local hospitals, churches and various community organizations. As an active member of the Catawba Valley Quilters' Guild, she also co-chaired the QUILTS OF THE VALLEY Quilt Show in 2015. And for the past several years, she also enjoyed quilting with the St. Peter's Lutheran Church (where she was a member) quilters.

Libby counts as her and her husband's greatest accomplishments the raising of their two sons to be the outstanding students and young men they turned out to be. Libby loved spending time with their sons, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, playing bridge or any kind of cards, reading, quilting and embroidery. She was also blessed with a number of wonderful school friends, a group who played bridge together since 1973 until several years ago when they became simply lunch buddies and a group of close friends and quilters who call themselves "The Loose Threads".

In lieu of flowers, she asked that donations be made to St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Conover or Catawba Valley Quilters' Guild.

A celebration of life will be held at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Wednesday, June 18, at 2 p.m. with refreshments served in the fellowship hall following the service.

Bass-Smith Funeral Home in Hickory is serving the family of Elizabeth Sigmon.