Nettie Mae Scruggs Cowan

Nettie Mae Scruggs Cowan, age 100, of Jefferson City, died Saturday, March 28, 2009, at St. Marys Health Center in Jefferson City.
She was born November 9, 1908, in Butler County, near Poplar Bluff, in Southeast Missouri. Nettie had three siblings, Charles, Irene and Elizabeth. After they were separated, Nettie was raised in a foster home in Brazito, by Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Monroe Miller, with 6-8 other girls. She was later located by her uncle, Dave Macon.
On April 13, 1927, Nettie married Clifford G. Scruggs. In 1928, they had their first and only child, James Monroe Scruggs. Clifford preceded her in death on April of 1934, leaving Nettie to raise James alone.
In 1942, Nettie and James moved to Portland, Oregon, where she began working in the shipyards. This is where she met Windell Cowan and they later married on April 14, 1944. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Jefferson City, where she worked at Oberman's Garment Factory and International Shoe Company, both located in Jefferson City.
Windell and Nettie moved to Florida in the late sixties. Windell passed away in the mid seventies and soon after, with the help of her family, she moved to Warrensburg to be with her stepdaughter, Ruby. Following Ruby's death, Nettie moved to the Hyder Apartments in Jefferson City, where she enjoyed making many new friends and visiting with family.
She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Jefferson City.
Nettie enjoyed playing cards, dominoes and reading books.
In January of 2007, she moved to Oak Tree Villas, where she made new friends, especially Mae Baker, who is her best buddy. Nettie and Mae could be found playing dominoes almost every night.
Nettie is survived by her son, James Scruggs of Portland, Oregon; nine step-grandchildren, and her nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husbands and her stepdaughter, Ruby, she was preceded in death by one brother, Charles and two sisters, Irene and Elizabeth.
Funeral services will be 12:00 noon Wednesday, April 1, at the Scrivner-Morrow Funeral Home in Russellville. Interment will be in the Johnston Cemetery near Jefferson City.
The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon on Wednesday, at the funeral home. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Johnston Cemetery.