Elsie Gail Scoggins

Elsie Gail (Rogers) Scoggins of the Grand Prairie Community north of Charleston, Arkansas, entered into Heavenly rest on the wings of angels just after 6:30 am on Wednesday, November 24, 2010, at the Peachtree Hospice Unit of Sparks Hospital in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Gail was born to George Lafayette “Fate” Rogers and Lena Bell Niblett Rogers on July 10, 1923. She was a homemaker for 67 years 8 months for her loving husband, Louie Willard Scoggins, who began his Heavenly journey on March 4, 2010. Gail was also preceded in death by her parents, sisters Alta Pearl Rogers, Elda (Rogers) Moran and Lena Bell (Rogers) Jeffries, and brothers; Frank, Thomas, Billy Hugh and Guy Rogers. Gail was a lifelong member of the Arkoma Primitive Baptist Church where she served as Clerk for many years.

Gail is survived by one brother, L.B. Rogers of Fort Smith; 3 sons-Larry and wife Paula of Springdale; Roger and wife Angela of Charleston; Randy and wife Betty of Charleston; 1 daughter, Janice and husband Shelby Essman of Charleston; 3 granddaughters-Andrea Battenfield of Charleston; Dr. Melissa Hunter and husband Sam of Bellefonte, PA; Sarah and husband Wayne Irelan of Bloomer; 10 grandsons-Lorne Scoggins and wife Ritchie of Lowell; Landen Scoggins and wife Brenda of Lavaca; Jody Scoggins of Springdale, Ross Scoggins and wife Misti of Fayetteville; Jarrod Essman and wife Heather of Paris; Brad Scoggins of Charleston; Adam Essman of Charleston; Ryan Scoggins of Fort Smith, Jeremy Connelly and wife Amy of Ozark; and Tommy Connelly and wife Dot of Charleston; along with 8 great-granddaughters – Kaylee Essman, Holly Chambliss, Kassandra Scoggins, MaKenzie Scoggins, Ericka Scoggins, Jenna Moore, Kayelee Connelly and Whitley Connelly; 6 great-grandsons – Dalton Brier Chambliss, Trinity Moore, Elijah Scoggins, Mason Scoggins, Jacob Scoggins, and Hayden Essman; 2 soon-to-be born great granddaughters-Samantha Elsie Irelan and Celia Hunter, along with a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

Gail devoted her life to her family, her community, her country but most of all to her Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. She worked tirelessly in her garden tilling the soil for canning and freezing her family’s food for the winter months, sharing with her neighbors at every opportunity. Gail wrote the Grand Prairie News for the Charleston Express for over 50 years and regretted having to stop the column late last year to care for Willard. Her column kept friends and family up to date on everyone in the community whether they lived close by or across the country. Her neighbors benefitted from her perseverance as she campaigned to get the dirt roads around the area improved and paved. She worked the polls at election time for many years; and seemed to know when friends were sick or needed help in some way-always made that phone call or dropped by for a visit just when it was needed. She made this world a little brighter for everyone around her. She taught her lessons quietly with a gentle voice but you always knew what she meant; and those lessons went on till the end as she showed her patience, strength and determination. Her impact on those around her was evident to her caregivers, doctors and nurses right up to her final moments on this earth. And those lessons will carry on because she taught them to our hearts.

Funeral service will be, November 29, 2010 under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home in Fort Smith at 10:00 AM in the Edwards Funeral Home Chapel with burial in Oak Cemetery in Fort Smith. Bro. Lorne Scoggins, Bro. Landen Scoggins and Bro. Bob Gilstrap will officiate. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers; Granddaughters and Great Grandchildren will serve as Honorary Pallbearers.

The family will visit with family and friends at Edwards on Sunday from 2-4 PM.

Memorial contributions may be made to Open Avenues of Rogers, Arkansas, or Arkoma Primitive Baptist Church, Arkoma, Oklahoma.

To sign an online guestbook visit www.edwardsfuneralhome.com