Mary Scoggins, 91, passed away on November 24, 2013, peacefully and enveloped in the devoted care of family and friends at home in DeRidder, LA. She is remembered as a loving and giving Mother, Grand Mommie, Great-Grand Mommie, and gracious lady who always put others first and had a passion for service to her family, her church, and her community. She was born Mary Claude McClure on August 6, 1922, near Paris, TX, to Lovie Ella McClure and Claude Raymond McClure, a barber by trade and Primitive Baptist preacher. Nurtured in their Christian home, she began a profound spiritual journey and developed her lifelong love of music. She and her siblings sang gospel hymns as a quartet for church services and on Ft. Worth radio as the original Chuck Wagon Gang, with Mary lending her clear alto voice to their remarkable harmony. The gift of music never left her, as she taught her girls all sorts of songs that her mother sang to her. She woke up each morning with a particular song in her heart and sang it to herself, and sometimes others, all day long. Mary had a unique gift for playing the piano by ear, always leaving listeners amazed that she never used written music. In the months before her passing, even as her mind and body were failing, she found comfort in and comforted others with her special talent. On May 24, 1946 Mary married the love of her life, Paul William Scoggins, who was her soul mate for 58 years until his passing in 2004. As their family grew, they moved from Fort Worth, TX, to Jackson, MS, then to Lake Charles and finally DeRidder, LA, where they made their home after 1964. Mary and Paul never wavered from their strong spiritual commitments or their love for one another and their three daughters. Mary was always involved in her girls' activities, serving in leadership positions in their school PTAs, in Brownie and Bluebird troupes, and pitching softball for neighborhood children's games. She was absolutely the best helper for cooking or sewing projects, book reports, and science projects! Her fun-loving nature brought pleasure to others as she was always up for a trip to a favorite restaurant, a movie or play, Six Flags or Putt-Putt, or just enjoying being at home with puzzles, games, or Dallas Cowboys football on TV. Mary was a natural hostess, making everyone who entered her home feel welcome and appreciated. As Mary and Paul lovingly brought up three daughters, they also served as civic leaders. Mary was an active member of the local garden club in every city in which she lived. She held leadership positions in both the local and state garden clubs, giving freely of her time to one of her great passions. Paul was a leader in the DeRidder Civitan Club, and Mary became a leader in the female version of the club, the Civinettes. The two of them served as both Presidents of the local chapters and as Governors of the Louisiana chapters in the same year. Mary was a graduate and graduate assistant of the Dale Carnegie program, helping Paul, a certified instructor, as they dedicated themselves to uplifting others. She later worked as office administrator in a prominent periodontal care office, continuing to provide service and care to others. Mary was an avid student of history who joined the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) after tracing her lineage to an Army Captain in the American Revolution. She loved this role, especially helping induct new American citizens. She leaves this legacy for her daughters, their daughters, and their daughters to come. She was one of the first administrators of the Beauregard Parish Museum after its opening in the old Railroad Station, sharing her vast knowledge of the history and the antiques to all that visited. In her later years, Mary was a two time breast cancer survivor who relied on her family, strength, and faith to sustain her. She attended First Baptist Church of DeRidder where she shared her musical gifts in her Sunday school group and Joy Singers. She loved this church family, but always retained her membership at the Primitive Baptist Church of Quitman, TX, the last church for which her father served as pastor. Mary Scoggins's family and friends remember a woman of great grace and gentle kindness, with inner spiritual and intellectual strength and a true servant's heart. Whether she was chairing club meetings, caring for elderly neighbors, baking fruitcakes or pound cakes for others, taking a casserole for "dinner on the grounds", or delighting listeners by playing hymns or the much requested "St. Louis Blues" on piano, she always put others first and reveled in being able to serve. Mary Scoggins left this world deeply loved, leaving friends and family with no doubt of their great fortune to have been so deeply loved by her. Mary is survived by two sisters, Lovella McClure of Fort Worth, TX and Norma Jean Tilton of Houston, TX; three daughters, Sherilan (Nancy Burkhalter) Scoggins of Denton, TX, Melinda (Jerry) Shirley of DeRidder, LA, Laurie (John) Johnson of Monroeville, AL; seven grandchildren, Dena (Bill) Rose, Krista (Ted) Hunt, Adam (Nicole) Johnson, Russell (Claudia) Bryan, Brent (Rachel) Shirley, Laura Shirley Landry, Bess Johnson; and fourteen great-grandchildren, Brianna Rose, Kelsey Rose, Jordan Rose, Kaleb Iles, Joshua Rose, Blake Iles, Josiah Rose, Lana Iles, John Paul Rose, William Bryan, Russell Bryan, Andrew Johnson, Tanner Hunt, and Samuel Hunt. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Clyde McClure, and her beloved husband Paul. Friends may visit with her family on Monday, November 25 at Labby Memorial Funeral Home in DeRidder, LA from 5:00 – 9:00 pm. Her service will be Tuesday, November 26 at 10:00 am in Labby Memorial Chapel in DeRidder, LA with Reverend Lindsey Burns officiating, with the burial to follow at the Woodlawn Cemetery in DeRidder. Words of comfort may be expressed to the Scoggins Family at www.labbymemorial.com