John Henry "Jiggs" Scholl died in his home of 92 years in Silver City on Wednesday, August 1, 2018. Knowing his end was near, he called his kids, grandkids and great grandkids on Tuesday and told them all that he led a blessed and good life and that he loved them all. He is missed.

Born December 24, 1925, Jiggs spent most of the first six years of his life at the family ranch at the Gila Hot Springs, where Doc Campbell's is now. He loved the Ranch. It was along the West Fork of the Gila with "Mom", "Dae Dae" and "Buck" where young Jiggs learned to love and respect the land, wildlife and nature. He enjoyed breakfasts with Ben Lilly a "neighbor" and frequent visitor to the Ranch who regaled Dae Dae, Buck and Jiggs with tales of a mountain man's life. Jiggs learned how to tell a story. And what a story he tells: When Jiggs turned six, the family moved into their Town House in Silver City so Jiggs could attend school. His adventures continued when he, Hilton "Sonny" Dickson, Lou and Dave Osmer, and Calvin and Joe Roy Salars met and formed what would prove to be a life-long fraternal bond they called the "Mystery Boys of the Full Moon." Jiggs was the last surviving member of MBFM, and no doubt took many of its secrets to the grave.

Jiggs was a sophomore at what is now Silver High in December,1941. Like many others, he heard the call to arms and in 1943, talked "Mom" into signing the paperwork allowing him to join the U.S. Navy. Jiggs served as a Navy Armed Guard on the merchant ship S.S. Dashing Wave transporting troops and materiel throughout the Pacific Theater during World War II. When the War ended in 1945, Jiggs returned to Silver City. After two years fighting in the Pacific, he reentered high school as a Sophomore. After graduation, Jiggs took classes at WNMU, but soon found life calling him to other adventures. He bought a Harley Davidson motorcycle and the first of two airplanes, a Stearman PT 17 bi-wing trainer. To pay for fuel, he needed a job, and hired on with the American News Company. Jiggs delivered magazines to shops and stores throughout Grant, Luna and Hidalgo Counties. He loved it: he got paid to drive around and explore the country he loved. On a fateful day in 1947, Jiggs was racking magazines at the Agee Drug Store when a drop-dead gorgeous girl behind the counter caught his eye. Not long after, he and Irene Cobb were married. Early in what would prove to be a sixty-six yearlong marriage, they bought the family home where Jiggs grew up from "Mom" and moved in to raise their family. Four children joined Jiggs and Irene over the next 13 years: John, born in 1948, Lu Ann, joined in 1953, Steve, in 1958 and Brian in 1960. The old house, built in 1902, needed to grow along with the family, so Jiggs began an over thirty-year project of renovation and additions to the place. First, he added a much needed modern kitchen. With handmade adobes put together in the driveway, Jiggs built a two story 600 square foot addition. Next, during the 1960s, he doubled the square footage of the original first floor and added the first indoor staircase connecting the two floors of the house. To do so, Jiggs dug out the hillside by hand with a pick and shovel moving over one thousand cubic yards of dirt in an old steel wheel barrow, most often carrying not only rock and dirt, but three or four kids on top for the ride down the hill. When all the dirt was moved, Jiggs did the concrete work on the floor and walls. Next, Jiggs did the plumbing and electrical work; followed by the rock and brick work finishing the walls. Then came the wood work on a lathe turning the four x four boards into works of art. A rock patio and rock walls were added to the back yard with hundreds of rocks, big and small, gathered from all over Grant County and cement made with "clean sand" Jiggs shoveled most evenings after work from arroyos around the County. In 1976, to celebrate the Nation's Bi-Centennial, Jiggs laid close to 10,000 red bricks in a project which saw beautiful stairways, curved sidewalks and patios added to the old house.

All that was done in his spare time. During most of the 1960s, Jiggs worked for Silver City Auto Supply selling and, more importantly, delivering car parts to shops throughout Grant County's mining and ranching districts. For nearly twenty years, Jiggs drove to the mines every Tuesday and to Cliff, Gila and Glenwood every Thursday. Along the way, he took time to meet and get to know everyone. The kids often joined him on those drives, which always included some side adventure to the Gila River to fish or hunt birds, Hanover and the T&M dairy for ice cream, or the occasional stop at Mi Ranchito in Bayard for fresh tamales.

In 1969, Jiggs was encouraged by his many friends to run for judge. That meant unseating the incumbent; never an easy task in politics. The family was all in. Yard sales financed the campaign and the kids sold many of their toys and other prized possessions to raise the money needed for posters and cards. His life-long friend Lou Osmer hired Jiggs at Climetals south of Tyrone so he could feed the family during the campaign. In 1970, Jiggs carried every precinct in the County but one and was elected as the first Magistrate of Division 1 in Grant County. He also was elected as the Municipal Judge for the Town of Silver City. Thus began a 25 year stint on the Bench where his life and his family's intersected with many other lives in Grant County. Court was held not only at the Courthouse, but was in session 24/7 with many complaints lodged, warrants issued, weddings done, and bail bonds set around the kitchen table and in the living room of the old family house.

After his grandkids came along, during visits to Silver City, they would accompany Jiggs running errands around town. They reported back that, "We can't go anywhere quick. Grandpa knows everyone in the County, and they all want to stop and talk and he does it!" As Judge Scholl, he touched the lives of many people. He married some. He helped some find their voice and justice. He saved some from themselves.

Amazingly, Jiggs had time to teach his kids to drive; to fish; to hunt; to ride horses; and, to use their hands to create things both useful and beautiful. He was devoted to Irene. The two of them square danced and boot scooted their way around Grant County and into the memories of countless friends, neighbors and strangers, who asked, "Who is that old couple burning up the dance floor?"

Jiggs and Irene were avid bottle collectors and dug out many old dump sites around the county, state and country. Any ten hour road trip took fifteen because no Antique Shop was passed without stopping. They toured the family around in a long list of station wagons bought from, Irene's father R.G. "Dick" Cobb's Used Car Lot on Bullard Street. Over the years, they drove to places near and far. Always, history was on the menu.

Jiggs taught his children to respect and love nature. He taught them to look up to the stars, to identify constellations and to navigate. He told stories of sleeping in a hammock he strung across the fan tail of Dashing Wave where he would sleep under the stars over the Pacific. The kids learned that no matter where they were in the world, looking up to the stars and fixing their position would connect them back to Silver City and to their family. When there were only a handful, Jiggs taught the kids to spot satellites and many a summer night was spent with everyone laying in the back lawn straining to be the first to spot Sputnik or one of the Mercury or Apollo space ships.

Jiggs loved the land, the sky and the water. As a young boy, he always wore a leather pilot's helmet and goggles around town. He wanted to fly. He studied the weather and was sure his kids knew how to read the clouds and know what weather was on the horizon. He and Buck loved geology. They taught the kids how to "read" the rocks and look for treasures they held: whether the colors, the minerals or the shapes. When it rained up country, Jiggs gathered the family and the race was on down the big ditch south of town to watch the raging floods come by. The kids learned to tell where the water from Pinos Altos came in on the water from Bear Mountain by the color and speed differences. Nothing escaped his notice and wonder. He taught his children that lesson well.

His dream of flying came true when he bought and flew two airplanes. When asked recently by his grandson Andy, "How long did you have your plane?" In true Jiggs' style, the answer was, "Right up until I crashed it!"

He loved flying, and even after he quit because fuel costs and time needed conflicted with the demands of kids and home life, he loved to hitch rides in the right hand seat with his dear friends Greg Whipple, David Fischer and J.C. Robinson. They might have let him take the controls once in a while.

Jiggs was a member of Silver City Lodge #8, AF&AM. As a Mason, he lived the lessons taught in the Lodge. He was Rainbow Dad for Silver City Assembly for years, known around the state as the Dad who wears red socks. He was DeMolay Dad with Gila Chapter. For many years, Dad Scholl helped many young men and women find answers to hard questions and provided guide posts for them and their lives.

Jiggs is survived by his son John and wife Susan of Garland, Texas; Daughter Lu Ann Wilmeth and Ida Polanco of Silver City; and, son Steve and wife Chris Menefee of Albuquerque; Grandchildren Nathan Wilmeth and wife Leah; Stefanie Thompson and husband Brett; Andy Scholl and wife Cara; Nicolas Scholl and Griffin Scholl; and, Great Grandchildren Ellen and Jake Thompson, Silas Wilmeth, and Jackson and Lena Scholl. He dearly loved them all, and they knew it.

Jiggs was preceded in death by his much loved and loving wife, Irene, son Brian, granddaughter Melanie Scholl and countless friends and family who he cherished.

Jiggs died at home in his bed, with the sun on his face and a cool summer breeze gently blowing his hair as his young friend and duet partner, Rachel Sowers played the guitar and sang some of his favorite old songs to him. It was during Red River Valley that Jiggs took his last breath and bid his family, his friends and this world, "Adieu!"

A memorial service will be held at Terrazas Funeral Chapels in Santa Clara on Friday, August 31, 2018, at 2:00 p.m. with inurnment following immediately after at Memory Lane Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Shriners' Hospitals, Grant County Humane Society or a special charity of your choice. Cremation has taken place at Terrazas Crematory.

Arrangements are with Terrazas Funeral Chapels and Crematory "Trusted care for the ones you love" ~ 575-537-0777.

To send condolences, visit www.terrazasfuneralchapel.com.