Joan Beverly SCOGGINS

1930 - 2016

SCOGGINS, Joan Beverly Began her journey as an angel on October 16, 2016 in Santa Rosa California, surrounded by those who loved her. She was 86 years old. She was preceded in death by her parents John and Hazel Thatcher and her grandson Matthew. She is survived by her sister Nancy Young, her best friends Serena and Jenny, sons Jaime and John, daughters Cathy, Linda and Julie. Her 19 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren, and the many friends she loved along the way. Joan was born on March 21, 1930 in Medford, Massachusetts, and spent her childhood years in the Boston area, until 1953 when she graduated from Tufts University with a B.S. Ed., including an additional certification from the Boston School of Occupational Therapy. After graduating she fulfilled a dream and moved to San Francisco, California, immediately engrossing herself in the culture of the time with a short lasting stint as Bohemian. Joan started her career as an Occupational Therapist working with differently abled individuals narrowing down her options until she was primarily working with children. Providing innovative and pure grit approaches to creating tools that help a physically disabled child's life function better. Joan planned her life well, including finding a plot of land at the top of a hill in Bodega Bay, California. The view from that plot of land was incredible; she could see the bay in one direction and the ocean in another. When her children were young they used to drive from Santa Rosa to Bodega Bay and have picnics on the land while listening to stories of Joan's dreams of a house to put on that land. By working very hard at sometimes two jobs, with learning how to make three meals from one head of cauliflower and other smart tactics she was able to retire at 55 and bring her dreams to fruition. She moved into that house built by her sons and others who loved her and was able to live her dream for an additional 30 plus years. Joan was an accomplished human being with so much love and compassion for everyone she met. She spent the last 30 years immersing herself in her life at Bodega Bay and living her dreams. She volunteered for the Bodega Bay Volunteer Fire Department and the Bodega Bay Grange, both near and dear to her heart. She traveled in China, the green hills of Ireland and the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Joan Scoggins was loved by everyone she met and has left an empty space in many hearts. And I know you are all wondering, had she lived to Election Day... Hillary had her vote. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the Bodega Bay Volunteer Fire Department at PO Box 6 Bodega Bay California 94923 or the Bodega Bay Grange Scholarship Program, PO Box 152 Bodega Bay, California. An Irish Wake was held in Joan's honor at her much-loved home in Bodega Bay on Friday October 21 and Saturday October 22, 2016.