Gorgonia Tela-on Sevilliano Scroggs
Gorgonia “Gloria” Tela-on Sevilliano Scroggs peacefully left the earth on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 at Soldotna General Hospital at the age of 83. She was a resident of the state of Alaska for more than 60 years.
Scroggs grew up in the province of Leyte, and was both strong and tenacious. As a survivor during the Japanese invasion during WWII , she embarked upon a lifetime journey of homesteading and motherhood. Her family and friends will always remember her as a woman of conviction.
Scroggs could filet salmon faster and cleaner than anyone. She smoked salmon on Kasilof Beach by her own fire, dug for clams, and defended her garden from moose and bears with a cast iron pan and wooden spoon — despite her 4-feet-and-a-few-inches stature. She spent many years on the Kenai Peninsula as her husband’s first mate on their commercial fishing boat, and worked for canneries and fisheries.
Her grandchildren will remember summers with their Gram as subsistence gypsies. When she pulled up to the house, she had a dip net hanging out the back of the car, berry pickers and buckets ready for low-bush cranberries and a few of the cousins in tow making room for you in the backseat. Her liveliness did not wane in the winters either. The thermostat was consistently set to 80, house plants on every surface, paintings of Elvis and the Virgin Mary side-by-side on the wall, crocheting projects scattered about, and the smell of eggrolls and sweet rice abounding — and bingo, no matter the season.
These are just a few of the many treasured memories and traditions she shared with her children, grandchildren and even great- grandchildren. Scroggs was the epitome of generosity, selflessness and hard work. All that she had, she shared and gave away and gladly left nothing for herself. She leaves a legacy of a family that will continue to strive to be generous, selfless and hard-working as taught by their beloved matriarch. All of us can’t wait to “see you then” beloved mother and sweet Gram.
Scroggs is preceded in death by her husband, James Jay Scroggs, daughters Susan Marie Scroggs and Diane Louise Scroggs, and son James John Scroggs.
She is survived by daughters Marcella Anne Scroggs and Lillian Nanette Scroggs; son-in-law Drew Dano Tollive; grandchildren Shadow Jon Thomas May and wife Ana Rebecca May, Jesson May; Michael Mann II, James Calvin Mann, Zachary Tanner Mann, Caitlin Marie Mann, Jazlyn Allise Mann, Elijah James Mann, Jessa Suzie May Mann; Jeremy Scroggs; Joshua Stanley Houk and wife Anastasia Rose Marie Houk; Racheal Simone Peterson and husband Nicolas Dean Peterson; Monica Virginia Dimick and husband Seth Nolan Dimick; Sasha Ann Fallon and husband Zane Fallon; Nicole Annette Stasek, Max Stasek; Danielle Telan Scroggs, Ashley Janette Moran-Scroggs and husband Charles Patrick Moran; great grandchildren Benjamin Rocket May, Birch Ryland May, Aspen May; Navaeh Kenzie Lee Scroggs; Kyler Jordan Mann, Kaden Wayne Mann, Zachary Tanner Mann, Caitlin Marie Mann, Jazlyn Allise Mann, Elijah James Mann, Jessa Suzie May Mann; Nicolette Marcella May Scroggs, Elizabeth Katheryn Aleah Scroggs; Jayden Nathaniel Houk, Aurora Virginia Simone Houk; Telan Jezel Fallon, Taylor Eve Fallon, and Macarther Louis Fallon; Azelya Celeste Moran; Layton Drew Jennings-Scroggs; Michael Alan Moran, and extended; Keith Stasek and Jack Maryott.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel in Kenai.