Jewel Scoggins

October 5, 1914 - April 20, 2010

Jewel Scoggins, a 76-year resident of Port Arthur, went to be with the Lord the morning of April 20, 2010. She was preceded in death by her husband, W.C. Scoggins, her parents, James Lee Conner and Ollie Weldon Conner, her sisters, Lillian Cryer and Opal Robinette, and her grandson, Brent Conner Scoggins. Jewel is survived by her son Noel Scoggins and his wife Pat, of Brenham, Texas, two granddaughters, Allison Scoggins of Raleigh, NC and Emily Fuller and her husband Andy of Lewisville, TX, and one great-granddaughter, Hayden Fuller. Jewel is also survived by her nephew, Bill Robinette, Jr. and his wife Lois, one niece, Sylvia Barrett and her husband Johnny, one great-nephew, three great-nieces, two great-great nieces, two great-great nephews, and a host of dear friends. Among those dear friends, Jewel and her family are especially grateful to Donna Voight for her selfless sacrifice, love, and care for Jewel. Jewel was born in Rosepine, LA on October 5, 1914, and she grew up on a farm near Deridder, LA. She enjoyed the simple country life, as her family grew most of their own food. At age 13, during a revival in Rosepine, she entered into an eternal relationship with Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. After graduating from high school, Jewel moved to Port Arthur in 1934 to study cosmetology at Mim's Beauty School. She worked as a beautician for 15 years in Newton, Orange, and Port Arthur, earning commissions and occasional tips from her work (at that time, a cut was $1.25 and a shampoo and set was $1.50). During World War II, Jewel worked for a year at the Orange shipyard ordering supplies needed to build ships. At this time, she also studied drafting in Port Arthur. Jewel met her husband, W.C. Scoggins, at church in 1937. She 'picked him out' and got a friend to introduce them. They were married on November 26, 1944. He served in the Army during the war, and he worked at Texaco refinery after the war until his retirement in 1975. Jewel taught Sunday School for over sixty years, and she was active in many other church activities throughout her life. She loved studying God's Word, and she leaves a wonderful legacy of children, teens, and adults who benefited from her Bible teaching. Her hobbies were reading, working crossword puzzles, cooking, gardening, and listening to the radio. Cooking was much more than a hobby for Jewel; it was another means through which she touched many lives. Jewel was at her happiest in her kitchen preparing veritable feasts of special dishes and recipes, all of which she loved to share with her friends and family.