E.C. deals with loss
EVANS CITY — For borough council Vice President Kim Armstrong, the unexpected death of Councilwoman Linda Bicehouse is more than a loss to the municipality.
“We were almost like sisters,” a stunned Armstrong said Monday morning.
While details are still incomplete, it is known that Bicehouse, 67, died over the weekend in her hotel room while visiting family out of town.
Bicehouse, a resident of Evans City for 45 years, was elected to council in 2011 and took office in January 2012. She won re-election last year to another four-year term.
Among her survivors are her son, Steve Bicehouse of Evans City, the director of Butler County Emergency Services and the Evans City Volunteer Fire Department chief, and her daughter, Cori-Rae Wagner of Evans City.
Armstrong said Bicehouse served on the council’s buildings and grounds and human resources committees, plus the Butler County Council of Governments and the Evans City Rotary Club.
She said in recent months, Bicehouse was working to obtain grants for the refurbishment of Main Street.
“She’ll be a very great loss to our community, and as a friend,” Armstrong said. “It’s a shock to everyone.”
Council President Lee Dyer, who is in China to watch his granddaughter compete in acrobatic gymnastics, is devastated by the death of Bicehouse.
“She was a highly effective colleague and a good friend,” Dyer said in an e-mail. “Linda’s tireless efforts to improve Evans City were mostly seen in grant writing and renovations of the borough building along with the various committees she worked on with the borough council and the Rotary Club of Evans City.”
Borough solicitor Mike Gallagher said council has one month from the date of her death to appoint a new council person to serve out her term.
Dyer said Evans City has lost one of its biggest advocates.
“Her energy and enthusiasm, along with her commitment to and love for Evans City, will be truly missed,” Dyer said.
The Boylan Funeral Home is handling funeral arrangements.
Her obituary is on Page 3.
