Samuel Wayne Scruggs

It is with great sorrow that we said our earthly goodbyes to Sam Scruggs on August 20, 2025 when he was called home to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Sam was born to Edward Clarence Scruggs and Diane Leslie Ver Straeten on May 16, 1962, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Ed, Diane, and his stepfather Charlie Canady preceded him in death. Sam is survived by his stepfather Raybo Moore. Sam’s family roots are in the Laporte/Fort Collins area, Oklahoma and Alabama. Sam spent much of his childhood in Fort Collins, where he graduated from Poudre High in 1980. He moved to the Dallas, Texas metroplex soon after to pursue a career in residential construction. He quickly advanced in that profession and soon became well known and respected for designing and building high end custom homes, with meticulous attention to detail and an aesthetic that was unmatched. He became a mentor to younger builders as he taught them his personal system for managing those complex projects to completion in record time, a skillset he was especially proud of and which made his services a valuable commodity within that industry in Dallas. Sam met the love of his life, Noreen, and Sam became hers, when he first moved to Dallas. But God had others plans for both of them until by His hand, they reconnected later in life and married in 2010. Sam and Noreen moved back to the Fort Collins area full-time in 2015 to reconnect with his family here and with the hopes of eventually retiring in the foothills of Livermore. There was nowhere he loved more than looking out on his view of the Rocky Mountains and enjoying the peace and majesty of God’s creation there. Sam became a building inspector for Larimer County in 2017, where he worked until cancer took his life much too soon and too quickly. He was well respected and much appreciated at the County amongst employees, and by his customers and contractors in the field. He enjoyed explaining to homeowners how to complete their projects within the building codes, as he worked closely with them to help guide them through construction practices and procedures. Having built a mountain home, he understood the unusual challenges associated within the remote areas of the county, and he had a special place in his heart for the elderly and disabled who were grappling with how to finish their projects within budget and time constraints. Amongst the contractors, he was highly regarded as being a “straight shooter” – tough but fair and you always knew where you stood with him; most likely because he learned so much from the high standards he had to adhere to early in his career and he wanted them to enjoy even greater success than he had in that phase of his professional life. Another shared that Sam was always willing to take the time to explain the whys as he walked their jobs with them. And to the Community Development Department at the County, there simply are not adequate words to convey how much he valued each and every one of you, and how honored and privileged he felt to be able to work alongside you over the years until his last month on this earth. You became his second family, and in his heart, he knew if he had to quit working and part company with you, it could be the beginning of the end. He was never a quitter, and such a workhorse. Beyond those department-wide relationships, Sam considered the incredible group of fellow inspectors his band of true brothers; you were his peers as well as his role models, and he treasured watching each of you succeed and grow, personally and professionally. More importantly, his cherished bond to this select group of fine men was only strengthened as you stood shoulder to shoulder with him so faithfully day in and day out during the hardest year of his life with your support and encouragement; I’m certain Sam has already worked it out with God to have your mansions in heaven on the same cul-de-sac as his. Within that expansive work family, Sam was broadly admired and respected for his tireless work ethic, excellence, kindness, integrity and for putting others first. Sam was humble to the core and preferred to quietly be a leader by example in the workplace. Locally, Sam is survived by his wife, Noreen. She and he were soulmates, and they were so grateful to God to have had an opportunity to build and share a life of love together. Among many other things, Sam was always her “soft place to fall.” He is also survived by his aunt Janet Iverson and her children: Shelly Randazzo, Jamie Rumley, Chad Iverson, Jody Lockhart, Matt Iverson, and Keri Kelly. Janet’s children were more like siblings to Sam, and he was their beloved “extra” big brother and all-around cool guy and hero growing up. Their many children considered Sam their likewise “cool” uncle, and one called Sam a legend. Aunt Jan and her husband Rusty were like second parents to Sam and so much more; it’s impossible to describe how much they meant to Sam as they nurtured him as a child and cheered him on in his adult years. Sam is walking property right now in heaven with his Uncle Rusty, surveying the landscape and making building plans. Sam is also survived by another local uncle and aunt, George and Cathy Ver Straeten, whom he deeply loved. Sam tried for many years to grow a moustache like his revered Uncle George has, but his never quite measured up. Sam will be missed by their children, Travis Ver Straeten of Fort Collins and Lindsey Balinkie of Phoenix. Sam’s local family has been in the area almost since it was first settled. His childhood memories included time spent outside in the orchard with his great grandparents Ethel and Jake Holtz on the family’s ancestral home beside the Laporte post office; Ethel was formerly married to Lynn Ames. Sam also loved spending time with his “angel” great aunt Frances Ver Straeten, who served as the Laporte postmaster for over 40 years, and his “angel” great uncle Lyle Ver Straeten, at the family’s dairy farm just down the road at the corner of Overland Trail and Michaud Lane (now owned by the Fisher family). Sam spent many early mornings before school and after school milking cows. Sam’s former wife, Sharon Little Scruggs, had also left this earth much too soon after a similar battle with cancer. Sharon and her daughter, Katherine Rosine Williams, greeted Sam at heaven’s entrance with open arms. Sam is also survived by Sharon’s two sons – Jason Williams of Colorado, and Brent Williams of Texas. Sam’s hobbies, beyond stewarding the relationships and belongings God generously blessed him with, invariably involved the great outdoors. He had a special appreciation for nature and a love for animals. Early in life, under the tutelage of his stepfather Charlie, he became an avid sportsman – hunting, tracking and fishing in Alaska, Colorado, Oklahoma and Texas. His days revolved around caring for his beloved animals – Beefmaster cattle, Quarter horses and a variety of dogs, mostly rescued. He hoped to have a telescope in his retirement years to view the stars in the clear Colorado night sky from his patio, but now he’s enjoying them from heaven’s view. Sam was a special man beyond measure, truly irreplaceable, and will be profoundly missed. He was quiet, humble, never afraid of a hard day’s work, a man of integrity who meant what he said and always kept his promises. He had a very special, unique and abiding relationship with Jesus. He began keeping a “miracle” list soon after he first kicked cancer to the curb in 2020 because he did not want to take for granted all the times, dating back to his childhood, that he knew God had saved his life, and at the bottom of that list, he wrote “praise God – the only reason I am still alive.” As his health declined, he rose early to thank God for giving him another day. We are all grateful to his Lord and Savior for rescuing him from the immeasurable suffering he endured at the end. For those who were blessed to be in his inner circle, Sam hung on and bravely fought the hardest battle of his life as long as he could just so he could have more time with you. Sam loved each of you uniquely and held you close in his heart in a way you would never fully know, because that was who he was – it was never about him. After Jesus, the people he loved mattered more to him than life itself. His neighbors, home health care nurses, and mountain community came alongside him in his most challenging final days to a degree we never could have hoped or imagined. We thank you immensely and will forever cherish you and be indebted to you. You were literally lifesavers in every way and fulfilled his last wishes by enabling him to stay at home, his happiest place, with his devoted wife nearby until his last day. He was looking forward to spending his retirement years working on projects at his home and yours, one of his favorite pastimes. His was a life of faith, humility, perseverance, courage, strength, grace, integrity and above all else, love. We were honored to share it with him. Thank you Jesus for Sam and the incredible man you shaped him to become. Until we see you again one fine day in heaven, precious Sam, we hold you close in our hearts. We eagerly look forward to sharing eternity with you and seeing you, healthy happy and whole, as promised in the blink of an eye. A few of his favorite verses: Isaiah 30:15 – “In quietness and confidence shall be your strength” Micah 6:8 – “This is what God asks of you, only this... To act justly. To love tenderly, and to walk humbly with your God.” Mark 5:36 – “only believe” Well done, good and faithful servant; welcome home.

Tributes

Samuel Wayne Scruggs

May 16, 1962 - August 20, 2025