Scott. Richard L., Sr.

SCOTT, PERDEW, OSTLAND

Posted By: Pat Ludeke (email)
Date: 5/27/2013 at 06:55:35

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

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday (November 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, Clear
Lake.

Visitation will be held Tuesday evening (November 13, 2012) at Ward Van Slyke
Colonial Chapel, 101 N. 4th St., Clear Lake, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. and will
continue 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, OH, 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, NJ 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, Missouri, 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
Gaye 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, AZ;
cousin, Virginia Kelly, Beaver, PA; sister in law, Jean Scott, of Deltona, FL;
and nephews, Ralph III, Michael, and Sam Scott.