Mary Kathleen Neiman

1945 - 2024

Mary Kathleen Neiman

A Life Fulfilled

Mary Kathleen "Kathy" Biggs Neiman, 79 years of age, passed on to heaven peacefully on May 29, 2024, at 1:00 p.m., while her husband and children were present at Hospice of the Valley, Glendale, AZ.

She was born in Toledo, Ohio in 1945 to Helen Marie Shugar and Walter Alvin Biggs, who was the Adams Township police chief. Kathy was a high school graduate of McAuley High School in 1963. She is survived by her husband of 60 years, David Charles Neiman; and her four sons, David Alan (Chris), Bradley Charles, Brian Wade and Darrin Jeffery (Colleen). She was also a grandmother to Brandin Sullivan, Deven, and Mackinnley Neiman, as well as a great-grandmother to Bentley Sullivan.

Kathy spent her time with the fulfillment of raising her family, spending time with her close friends, and putting in countless hours to give back to her community in many ways. In her spare time, she worked in her parents' variety store. She was the matriarch of her immediate and extended family. She enjoyed and welcomed numerous guests to her homes with open arms. She created a warm welcoming feeling to anyone who knew her, and her thoughtful ways were spent bringing people together.

In Ohio, while raising her children she was an AAU swim and dive coach. As well as officiated summer swim and dive meets. Kathy also went on to manage The Waterville Outdoor World Sporting Goods store.

In 1982, when she moved to Arizona, where she was instrumental in getting the first high school open to residents in Cave Creek, Cactus Shadows High school. She organized petitions and rallies in support of the new school, where her children all attended including the first graduating class. She worked in the administration department and was the pom team spirit line coach. She supported fundraisers such as Hands Across America for the hungry and poverty stricken. She was the President of the Booster Club. She went on to work at North Canyon High School, where she became a special education paraprofessional supporting students with diverse needs. In 1997, Kathy supervised a high school student team in the US FIRST national engineering robotic contest in Chicago and won an award. She also built a crafting business called "Kreations by Kathy" that she was very passionate about. She made and sold Christmas ornaments, jewelry, dolls, and even paintings using her unique talents for her business. She volunteered at the Elks lodge giving back by organizing many charitable events such as the National Hoop Shoot.

Hobbies that Kathy enjoyed were riding and training her horses, restoring project cars with her husband. She supported and enjoyed the special interests of her children including sports and music. She enjoyed traveling, including Nascar events, camping, and attending her extended family sporting events!

A private ceremony will be held with immediate family within the Tonto National Forest on The Bartlett Lake Reservoir per Kathy's request, where her ashes will be released.

In lieu of flowers, memorial charitable contributions can be made in Kathy's name to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.