Richard Scott

Richard L. Scott, Sr., 76, formerly of Clear Lake, died Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012 at the I.O.O. F. Home in Mason City, Iowa, from complications of Alzheimer’s disease.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 213 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Mason City, with Pastor Kathy Graves officiating.  Burial will be held in the Clear Lake Cemetery.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to Richard’s service on Wednesday morning at the church.  

Memorials may be left in Richard’s name to Opportunity Village, KCMR Radio, or the Alzheimer’s Association.

Richard Lee Scott was born on July 1, 1936, the second son of Ralph and Marian (Perdew) Scott in Rochester, Pa.  Dick graduated from Beaver High School, Beaver, Pa., in 1954 and from Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio, in 1958.  He was active in band, where he played trumpet, and church activities.  As a youth, Dick attended church camp Jumonville in Ohio, where he felt his call to ministry.  With that goal in mind, he furthered his education at Drew University, the Theological school in Madison, N.J., and was ordained first as a deacon and then as an elder in 1962 in the United Methodist Church.

For four years Richard served congregations in New Jersey, where his two sons, Richard Jr., and Stephen, were born.  An opportunity arose to fill a position as pastor of Christian Education at the Methodist Church in Newton, Iowa, and the family moved to Iowa in 1966.  He later served Methodist Churches in Keota, Atlantic, and Thornton, Iowa.

In 1974 Dick began his career at Opportunity Village in Clear Lake.  He worked in various capacities at the Village, including cottage supervisor and goal coordinator.  Dick had a heart for the residents and was known for his sensitive approach to their care.  He was a recipient of the Shirley Echelbarger Award in 1997.

After 24 years at the Village, Dick went to work part time at The Lighthouse Christian Bookstore in Mason City, where he truly loved the people he met and worked with.  He prepared for his retirement in 2001 by training for several volunteer positions.  These included being a front desk escort at Mercy Hospital, a volunteer announcer at KCMR Radio, and a lay liturgist and communion visitor for Zion Lutheran Church.  If you had asked him which area was his favorite, he would have said, “I loved them all!”

Richard felt that the ministry had come full circle for him when he was asked to fill a part time position as Lay Visitor for Zion Lutheran Church.  It was his deep passion and joy to share his love of Jesus with shut-ins and those in hurting situations.  During this time he conducted many funerals on behalf of the church.

By 2008 symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease had become more apparent, and Dick began his “final” retirement phase.  He became a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in February of 2011.  He loved the people at the Salvation Army Adult Day Care Center, which he attended from June 2010 until entering the I.O.O.F. Home in September of 2011.  Even there his sweet personality showed through as he told others he was happy and graced them with his wonderful smile.

A focal point in Dick’s life was his marriage to Gaye (Ostlund) Scott on July 9, 1977.  Dick and Gaye firmly believed that God had brought them together.  They loved sharing the simple pleasures of life such as eating out, going to concerts, and traveling to Branson, Mo., their favorite vacation destination.  They also shared a love of animals and became devoted “parents” to Perky (the parakeet), Charlie (the dog), and Katie and Gracie (cats).  Dick was sensitive, kind, generous, loving, compassionate, and a true gentleman.  No matter what problems came his way, he never gave up on God and was able to tell Gayle in recent months that God had never left him.  His theology was simply “Jesus loves me,” and he was known for his favorite expression, “Alleluia!”  He is now rejoicing in the presence of his Lord and Savior, and would want his family and friends to join him there someday.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Ralph Scott, Jr.; and father-in-law, Donald Ostlund.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Gaye; sons, Richard Scott, Jr., and Steve Scott (Tina Miller); grandson, Justin Scott (Kelsey Klein); great-grandson, Adler Grey Scott; mother-in-law, Frances Ostlund; sister-in-law, Meda Ostlund, all of Mason City; brother-in-law, John (Charlene) Ostlund, of Green Valley, Ariz.; cousin, Virginia Kelly, Beaver, Pa.; sister-in-law, Jean Scott, of Deltona, Fla.; and nephews, Ralph III, Michael, and Sam Scott.  Alleluia!

Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, was in charge of arrangements.