James Marcus Scoggins

Mark grew up in Atlanta, GA as the youngest of nine children. He joined the Air Force for the first time at the age of 17. He joined the Air Force a second time when he was 28. He served during the Korean War and was a cryptologist. After twenty years of service mostly overseas, he retired at the rank of tech sergeant.

After his military career, he graduated from seminary while raising six children with his wife, and pastored several churches before he began Set Free Prison Ministries, his passion. For 23 years he served in this ministry providing thousands of Bible courses and visiting prisoners across Arkansas and Oklahoma.

He didn’t have any hobbies and he didn’t care for sports; he was just obsessed with serving his Lord and Savior after hearing the call of Jesus when he was 26 years old. We miss him deeply, but our hope abounds because he is finally with the one he lived for. He has no more pain. He has been made whole. His aspiration was to share with those around him the life to be had in Jesus and he was desperate for those he encountered to have that truth. We are convinced that he wants those reading this to know that Jesus is calling you and that you are in dire need of Him. He wants you to know that Jesus died for you and your sin. He wants you to know that your sin has been paid for if you trust in Christ as your Savior and give your life to Him. He wants you to know that Jesus loves you and always has. Dad said those words to many during his time here.

There is not enough space or words to describe the uniqueness and rarity of this man who was more than a husband, a father and a grandfather. He was above all a follower of Jesus. He is a light in this world and that light remains.

The celebration of his life, the one he had on this earth and the one he currently lives, “steppin” with Jesus, will be on Thursday, February 3, at 10 a.m. at Fentress Mortuary Chapel in Fort Smith with burial at the U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Smith.

He is survived by his wife, Lenora; three daughters, Susan Hontz, and husband Jeff of Corning, IA, Elizabeth Tidwell, and husband Chris of San Diego, CA and Rebecca Larkin, and husband Jimmy of Dubois, WY.; three sons, Paul, Phillip and wife Amy and Nathan and wife Brandi Scoggins, all of Fort Smith; and 14 grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Nathan, Phillip and Paul Scoggins, Jimmy Larkin, Jeff and Alex Hontz and Chris Tidwell.

Family will greet friends from 5-7 p.m on Wednesday, February 2, at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Southside Baptist Church, 2400 Dodson Ave., Fort Smith, AR 72901.