Deacon Otis D. "Grandpa" Scroggins

Deacon Otis D. "Grandpa" Scroggins, 94, of Junction City, KS, passed away on Friday, May 6, 2022 at Geary Community Hospital. A funeral service for Deacon Scroggins will take place 11 a.m. Saturday, May 21, at the Pentecostal Church of Jesus Christ Grace Center located at 5th and Adams in Junction City. Deacon Scroggins will lie in state one hour prior to the service. Bishop William Ocean will officiate. A visitation will be held 5-7 p.m. Thursday, May 19, at Johnson Funeral Home located at 203 N. Washington Street in Junction City. There will be a celebration of life service 7-8:30 p.m. Friday, May 20, at the church. Deacon Scroggins will lie in state beginning at 5 p.m. Friday at the church. The burial will take place 10:00 a.m. Monday, May 23, at Kansas Veterans' Cemetery with military honors. Deacon Scroggins was an honorable retired member of the U.S. Armed Forces and will be buried in a military cemetery. Limited flowers can be placed at the gravesite. Therefore, in lieu of flowers, the family request to consider making a donation that will reflect his life by donating to the O.D. Scroggins' Children Sunday School Memorial Foundation. Donations can be made to www.raz.mobi/pcjc – In Honor of Deacon Otis Scroggins.

If you asked a hundred people who Otis D. Scroggins was, they'd all give you a different story. A Deacon. A Kiwanian. A Scout. The world's best husband, dad, uncle, 'Grandpa.' Even though he was all of these things, the most important title for him was "Christian.’

Otis D. Scroggins was born April 30, 1928, in De Queen, Arkansas. He enlisted in the military on October 5, 1950. While stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas, he attended the Pentecostal Church of Jesus Christ. He was saved under the ministry of Elder J.L. Woodridge. He later began working in the ministry as a Sunday School Teacher, a position he held for over sixteen years. He also served as the Young Peoples President, Assistant President of the North West District Council and was later ordained a Licensed Deacon. Deacon Scroggins served as an Armor Bearer, Church Finance Officer, Chairman of the Church Executive Board, Chairman of the Deacon Board, Prayer Band Member, Church Van Driver and Head of the Baptismal Committee. He was an excellent cook and loved cooking for and serving anyone who wanted a meal.

Deacon Scroggins served his community through the Boy Scouts, Kiwanis, Food Pantry, Terrific Kids, Special Olympics, Foster Care, and any need brought to his attention. He was a Scout Master and District Scout Executive. While a Scout Master he received the Thirteen Year Award, which consisted of the Silver Beaver Award. As an active member of the Kiwanis Club, he served as President and President of the Builder's Club and received the Quilt of Valor and James W. Putnam Awards, which are given to the most outstanding Kiwanian of the Year. He faithfully served as a Special Olympics Coach for many years. He was a coordinator for the Relay For Life and a United Way Representative. All that knew him can affirm that "No" was not in his vocabulary.

Deacon Scroggins's favorite pastime was sitting in his office at the church Monday through Friday, from 7am until noon, working at his desk and listening to the KJCK Radio Station and the Swap Shop every morning. Hardly a week went by that he did not call into the station to share someone's birthday and have it entered into the birthday drawing and announced over the radio. If he knew your birthday, he would call it into the station, much to the surprise of those who were celebrating their birthday. Some would be lucky enough to win a free dinner at the old Sirloin Stockade restaurant by having their name drawn during the radio's birthday drawing segment.

He was preceded in Death by Clara Scroggins, Doris Scroggins, Karen Scroggins, Karen Hayes (daughter), Bridgette Hayes (granddaughter), and Robert Scroggins (son). Four brothers, Sidney Bennett (Vera), J.D. Scroggins (Mary), Murray Scroggins (Thelma), Paul Ray Scroggins, and Alton Humphrey; One sisters, Betty (Scroggins) Perry. He is survived by his wife Shirley, one living sister, Jean (Scroggins) Humphreys. Children: Jeffrey Birch, Dallas, TX; Marquita Mascoll, Tulsa, OK; Sammy Williams, Junction City, KS; Curtis (Cynthia) Scroggins, Jefferson City, MO; Jamahl Lawrie, Wichita, KS. Grandchildren: Bruce Hayes, Bay City, TX, Rachel Scroggins, Tulsa, OK, Brandon Mascoll, Tulsa, OK, Julian Mascoll, Tulsa, OK, Makkia McPherson, Jefferson City, MO. Jeremiah W. Lawrie, Emporia, KS, Joshua Lawrie, Independence, KS. Great Grandchildren: Kayla Hayes, Joshua McPherson, and many nephews and nieces.

When asked what gift he treasured the most, his answer was, "The most wonderful gift I ever received is the gift I did not have to do anything to receive; Jesus did it all for me, and that is the gift of the Holy Ghost, which has made everything that I have done possible."

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