Mary Louise (Sagniere) Rigsbee

Mary Louise (Sagniere) Rigsbee passed away peacefully in her sleep on September 16, 2026, at the age of 105. At the time of her death, she was a longtime resident at Magnolia Crossing Assisted Living in Clovis.

Mary was born on March 8, 1921at the old Clovis Sanitarium (original Clovis hospital) on Pollasky Avenue in downtown Clovis, to Joe and Tillie Sagniere. She was the second of four children – older brother Joe, younger brother Fred, and baby sister Rosalie. Mary was raised on the family fig ranch east of Clovis.

After graduating from Clovis High School in 1939, Mary attended 4C’s Business College, preparing for her long career as a bookkeeper. She retired from her job at Clovis Auto Parts at the age of 81!

In 1946, Mary married Emmett Rigsbee. They resided in Clovis and eventually moved that house to the ranch on Temperance Avenue east of Clovis. There they raised their three children: Chuck, Dan, and Pam. Mary loved family gatherings and large BBQs at the ranch.

As lifelong residents of Clovis, Mary and her family have been involved in the Clovis Rodeo since its inception in 1914. Her grandfather, Joseph, helped cook the meal for the first rodeo, then called “Clovis Days.” Her husband Emmett was a longtime member of the Clovis Rodeo board and served as Grand Marshal of the Clovis Rodeo parade in 1992. Both Chuck and Dan have served on the rodeo board for over 30 years, both are past presidents, and both serve on the Clovis Rodeo Association Foundation board.

She remained on the ranch for a number of years after Emmett passed in 1995. Eventually the ranch was sold, and she moved, as she said, “to town,” to a small condo.

In 2019 she moved again, this time to Magnolia Crossing, an assisted living facility near old town Clovis. At 105, she was the oldest resident and the oldest in residence at the facility.

A lifelong parishioner at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, she continued to receive weekly communion visits.

She attributes her long life to hard work, a good sense of humor and a little Crown Royal.

We would like to thank Constance Peters, Administrator of Magnolia Crossing, her nurses, and support staff, for the wonderful care Mom has received for the last 7 years. Also special thanks to Bridge Home Health, especially Myesha who provided specialized nursing care.

Mary is preceded in death by her husband Emmett, all three of her siblings and niece Virginia Rose. She is also predeceased by brother-in-law and sister-in-law Jim and Pat Mitchell.

She is survived by her son Charles (Chuck), and wife Lois, son Dan, and wife Susan, daughter Pamela Sarantos, and husband George. Granddaughter Kacey Martino and husband Nick, and great grandsons, Mason and Cameron Martino. She is also survived by niece JoAnn Johnson, nephew Tom Sagniere, wife Tish, niece Sherry Erbez, nephew Greg Rose, nephew Mark Mitchell, wife Cheryl, Mike Mitchell, Susan Mitchell and many grand-, great grand-, and great great grand nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Clovis Rodeo Association Foundation, PO Box 445, Clovis, CA 93613.

A memorial Mass on Wednesday September 30th at 10:30am will be held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 929 Harvard Ave., Clovis, CA 93612. Interment to follow at Academy Cemetery, 11844 Mendocino Ave, Clovis, CA 93619