Ellen Kay Scroggs

HAWARDEN, IOWA ~ Ellen Kay (Craft) Scroggs passed away on Wednesday, August 23^rd, at the Hawarden Regional Healthcare Hospital after fighting her long battle with cancer. She was surrounded with family and the care of loving nurses at the hospital.

   Funeral Service will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 26, 2023, at the Associated Church in Hawarden, Iowa with Pastor Jean Layton officiating. A luncheon will follow the service, and then will be a private family committal at Grace Hill Cemetery in Hawarden. Visitation with the family will be from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the church and also at the luncheon. The Porter Funeral Home in Hawarden is assisting the family. Condolences may be sent to www.porterfuneralhomes.com.

   In lieu of flowers and gifts, the family requests donations to the Hawarden Regional Healthcare Foundation.

   Ellen Kay was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on August 27, 1939, the daughter of Morgan and Mabel (Mason) Craft. She went to Franklin High School and then continued her education at Iowa State University. She graduated with a teaching degree in Physical Education and taught one year in San Bernadino, California.

   After a whirlwind and long distance courtship, Kay married Frank Dike Scroggs August 11, 1962. They moved to Hawarden, Iowa where they started their new life together, raising three daughters.

   Kay became very involved in the community and was a member of the Associated Church, PEO, Library Board, and the Hospital Board. She also spent many years putting her “blood, sweat, and tears” into the Hawarden Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Shop, and was honored as the Hawarden “Citizen of The Year” for her work. She volunteered and served as their director until her health prohibited her from doing so. According to her grandson, “Grandma was famous because everyone knew her.”

   When Kay was not volunteering her time, she liked to get together with friends, play cards (Bridge), travel, spend time at the cabin in Canada with her family, and watch football.

   Kay is survived by her two daughters, Peg (Michael) King of Bourne, Massachusetts and Marty Ragnow of Victoria, Minnesota; 6 grandchildren, Sarah Cronin, Frank Ragnow, Katie Ragnow, Jack Ragnow, Maddie Ragnow, and Elena King; a great-grandson, Jon Benson Ragnow; sister, Martha Smith of Rockford, Illinois; brother, Jim (Robin) Craft of Tarpon Springs, Florida; sister-in-law, Julie Scroggs of St. Louis, Missouri; and nieces and nephews.

   Kay was preceded in death by her daughter, Wendy Scroggs; husband, Frank Dike Scroggs; son-in-law, Jon Ragnow; and brothers-in-law, Bob Scroggs and wife Jo, Jim Smith, and Jim Scroggs and wife Joanie.