Shirley G. Scaggs
February 28, 1937 – August 24, 2022
A blessed soul and one who blessed us departed to heaven on Wednesday
morning, August 24, 2022. Shirley Genette (Meeker) Scaggs, age 85 of
LaPorte, Indiana, was a mother, grandmother, a hard worker, a good
friend, and a radiant beam of sunshine. She was born on February 28,
1937, in Veedersburg, Indiana. Her parents were John M. and Daisy
(Phillips) Meeker.
Shirley graduated from Veedersburg High School in 1955 and
married Robert Scaggs on December 31, 1957, in the Luray Caverns in West
Virginia. The couple first lived in Crawfordsville, Indiana and moved
briefly to San Bernardino, California. They returned to Indiana living
in Valparaiso, then for most of her life in Knox (Bass Lake), and then
on to Michigan City and La Porte. She and Bob had eight children, the
eldest, Rick, predeceased her in 2010 and their infant daughter, Patty,
unexpectedly passed in 1968. Husband, Robert, passed away on March 29,
1988. Continuing Shirley’s legacy are her children, Karen Small and her
husband, Douglas, of South Bend; Michael Scaggs and his wife, Kay, of
Clearwater, Florida; Mark Scaggs and his wife, Patti, of Knox; Beth
Poehl and her husband, Mark, of La Porte; Kathy Weber and her husband,
Scott, of Indianapolis; and Debbie Schlang and her husband, Steve, of
Scroggins, Texas. Shirley wrote that she considered her children to be
her “Jewels.” Shirley was blessed with 13 grandchildren – Rick Scaggs
(Mindy); Miles Small & Kemmery Small Keultjes (Charlton); Dustin Scaggs;
Jeania Gennette Scaggs St. John (Jason) & Sarah Scaggs Washington;
Ariana & Specialist Lucas Poehl, who sadly passed away last year; Annie,
Sam, & Ben Weber; and Hana & Jake Schlang. Shirley also found herself
with 10 great-grandchildren – Allie & Kelsey St. John; Trey, Olivia &
Alex Conner; Henry Small; Maive, Lana, & Kline Keultjes; and Patrick
Scaggs. Shirley was also preceded in death by her siblings, Patricia
Mazac, Kathleen Matthews, and John Meeker. She is survived by her
youngest sister, Lura (Richard) Slaughter of Michigan City.
Shirley worked for more than 25 years for Sears as a parts
manager at its stores in Knox, Michigan City and Merrillville. After her
retirement, she went on to work several years as a recess attendant at
Critchfield Elementary School in LaPorte where she was affectionately
referred to as “G-Ma” and “Grandma Shirley.”
Shirley was multi-talented. She was a great cook with her
specialty being fruit pies with their tender, flaky crust. She made “sit
tight” pie crust for her children & grandchildren by taking the
remaining pie dough and sprinkling cinnamon sugar on top. It baked
quicker than the pie, so her children and grandchildren could “sit
tight,” enjoying the sugary crust while they waited. She was an expert
seamstress and an avid quilter. She sewed her children’s Halloween
costumes and the “Scaggs kids,” as they were known around Bass Lake,
would typically win first place at Bass Lake’s Halloween parties. She
made T-shirt quilts for all of her graduating grandchildren, and she
spent her last few years making yo-yo quilts for nearly everyone in the
family from gathered fabrics and sentimental pieces of clothing. She
collected teacups and teapots, and held dainty tea parties with her
grandchildren, teaching them to drink tea with their “pinkies up.” She
loved visiting her family, traveling wherever they were, including
Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, Texas, Vermont, Wisconsin, and
Germany where she even went downhill skiing. Shirley had a green, green
thumb. She grew her garden with lush vegetables, sharing with friends
and family, and planted vibrant flowers around the family home with
potted plants inside. Most autumns, Shirley and her daughters canned
fruits and vegetables for the upcoming year. Her grandchildren anxiously
awaited the holidays, hoping they would receive canned jams and jellies
from their “G-Ma.” She was an animal lover and, on more than one
occasion, became the next stopping point for a pet which one of her
children was no longer able to keep. She was the family’s go to dog/cat
sitter. She was a voracious reader, always exchanging books with her
daughters and granddaughters. Oh, we almost forgot, she was also an
expert “line dancer.” On Tuesday nights, she made it known that she was
busy and would go out with her cousin, Marcia Averit, to the Senior
Center in Michigan City and dance her heart out! Unfortunately, she was
too early for America’s Got Talent. She was the kind of grandmother that
attended many of her grandchildren’s school and extracurricular
activities, including climbing the dunes in her 80s.
We are incredibly blessed to have Shirley in our lives. She
was only 4’11”, but she was bursting with love, joy, and acceptance.
When she smiled, her whole face glowed, her cheeks bubbled and rose, and
her eyes glinted. There was a warmth that penetrated your very soul. She
made everyone feel welcome, she accepted people as they were, and she
hugged them with her whole being. Good fortune traveled with her – she
could find a four-leaf clover in nearly any lawn or field. We are so
lucky to have her as a mother, a mother-in-law, grandmother,
great-grandmother and friend. Indeed, several of her daughter’s
ex-boyfriends came to her home to visit with her. She will be forever
missed and never forgotten. She was our four-leafed clover.
Shirley spent the last months of her life at Rittenhouse
Assisted Living in Indianapolis. The staff there were wonderful, and we
want to thank them for the help and compassion they provided to Shirley
and her family. While there, she benefited from the expertise and
understanding of Dr. Kevin McNaulty with the Center for Healthy Aging.
In lieu of flowers, Shirley’s family requests donations be made to Cure
Alzheimer’s Fund (https://curealz.org) and American Brain Foundation
(https://www.americanbrainfoundation.org).
Funeral services will be held on Friday, October 7, 2022,
at The Ott/Haverstock Funeral Chapel, 418 Washington St., Michigan City,
IN. A visitation will take place at 9 AM CST with a service at 10 AM
CST. A private family burial service will follow at Union Christian
Cemetery, Veedersburg, IN.
