Martha (Sissy) Collier Scruggs of Dallas, Texas, passed away peacefully on Monday, July 27, 2020. She was born in Statesville, N.C., on October 27, 1935. Her early years were spent in Statesville, where she made many lifelong friends. She attended Stratford Preparatory School in Danville, Va., and Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, Va. She worked at the North Carolina Dental School as an office administrator and was able to transfer those skills to Baylor Dental School in Dallas, when Sissy, along with many great friends, made the long journey to Texas in order to see and enjoy a bit of the “wild west.” In February of 1961, Sissy met Tom Scruggs, and they married on August 12, 1961, in Statesville, N.C.
Sissy was preceded in death by her parents Robert Alvis Collier and Margaret Adams Collier. Sissy is survived by her husband of 59 years, Tom L. Scruggs; son Robert Walker Scruggs and wife Annie of Pacifica, Calif., son Thomas Collier Scruggs of Dallas, daughter Blair Scruggs Fritz and husband William Fritz of Plano, Texas, son Craig L. Scruggs and wife Michelle Scruggs of Dallas, and her brother, Judge Robert Alvis Collier and wife Barbara Collier of Statesville. Additionally, Sissy was blessed to have five wonderful grandchildren who were the light of her life. They are Morgan Fritz (25), Chase Fritz (22), Bailey Scruggs (20), Macy Fritz (19), and Brooke Scruggs (18).
Sissy loved desserts of all kinds and is remembered for jars full of various types of candy that were the delight of her grandchildren. She seldom went shopping without bringing home something frivolous for them to enjoy. Similarly, Sissy was known by the neighborhood kids for always having the best treats and never running out of food. Her children’s playmates would often drop by to enjoy some daytime television with her, such as soap operas and talk shows, and eat the various types of snacks that Sissy always had on hand. Many people have memories of Sissy driving through the neighborhood in her red station wagon with kids hanging out of every window on the way to an activity or game of some sort. Sissy always had lots of friends and loved to throw big parties for every occasion. She enjoyed exercising every day and could be found jumping rope anywhere she went, from the beach to the side of the highway on a road trip. After her children reached adulthood, Sissy became a member of the Assistance League of Dallas. As part of her membership, she volunteered at Children’s Hospital of Dallas, where she loved passing out presents and pushing the toy cart. She was also an active member of her neighborhood club, The Citadel, her women’s bowling league, and many church activities. Tom and Sissy joined Churchill Way Presbyterian Church, now known as Bentwood Trail, in 1971 and have been heavily involved ever since.
Sissy always had a happy and upbeat attitude. One of her friends reflected recently that, “Sissy was one of her true and faithful friends, beautiful, happy smiles, always kind, sweet, gentle in her ways, and showed a great appreciation for life and celebrated it each and every day.” Sissy’s last few years were spent battling that ole’ memory-robbing disease. This took her from living a vibrant and fun lifestyle to experiencing many challenging medical issues that severely restricted her memory and physical abilities. Yet even during these difficult and challenging times, Sissy always had a smile for her caregivers, family, and friends.
Sissy’s family would like to thank the many caregivers at Brookdale Preston and the caregivers in her home who did everything possible to make her final years as peaceful and comfortable as possible. Specifically, we would like to thank Shari Bernhard for her loving and steadfast care of Sissy throughout the years of her illness. Due to restrictions from the pandemic, a graveside service for family will be held at Restland on Monday, August 3, at 11 a.m.
Restland Funeral Home is serving the family.