St. Clair County Obits

MARY CATHERINE SCOTT

St. Clair County Courier
7 August 2006
We gather together today to celebrate the wonder of earthly life and her victory over death for a person near and dear to us all - Mary Catherine Scott. The Scott family extends their heartfelt appreciation to all of her friends, family and fellow church members in attendance here today.
Mary Catherine (Roy) Scott, 84, Deepwater, Mo., passed away Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2006 at Sac-Osage Hospital in Osceola, Mo., after suffering a stroke. She left these earthly bounds as she would have wanted - quickly, quietly and without lingering illness or hospitalization.
Mary Catherine Roy was born June 12, 1922 in Kansas City, Mo., to Archibald Roy and Nora (Bridenstine) Roy. She was the eldest of four children and was preceded in death by her three brothers, Robert, Charles and Leroy. Mary's life was one of extraordinary challenges which would have overwhelmed any of us - at any age and at any time in our lives. Born in 1922, she grew to adulthood during the great American depression of the late 1920s and the 1930s. She lost her 39-year-old father due to a heart attack in January, 1933 while she was but 10 years old.- and she and her brothers lost their mother later that year as her mother moved them to a small farmstead near the old Southwest Missouri town of Avery, Mo., and left them to their own devices as she left for Chicago, Ill., and never to return.
As the months unfolded through the summer of 1933, Mary was totally reliant on the good will and generosity of farm family neighbors in providing the basic sustenance for her and her three little brothers. As the Fall approached. and growing increasing desperate for help of  any kind, she saw no alternative but to abandon the small farm house and hitchhike wiht her three little brothers the nearly 150 miles to Kansas City, Mo., in hopes of reuniting with extended family members.
Fortunately, she was able to find their way to Uncle George and Aunt Leila Shaw's home in Randolph, Mo., who were able to take them in, but for a very short time. The depth of the depression was upon the land, and her Aunt and Uncle could not financially support this additional family burden. So, Mary and her brothers were taken before the local courts and became wards of the state of Missouri. Mary spent the next year in the Girl's Orphanage in Carrollton, Mo., while her younger brothers were similarly situated at the Missouri State Boy's Orphanage, as well.
But, through her letter writing, she kept in regular communication with her brothers and other relatives in the Kansas City, Mo., area and despite several attempts by other families to adopt her brothers; she did what she could to preserve the bonds of their little family. Eventually, she was able to again go before the courts and return to the North Kansas City, Mo., area and in her earliest teen years found herself living with various families in the area as a live-in maid and house servant while caring for their homes and their children for her room and board. Her mother, having now remarried, finally returned to the area and assumed her parental responsibilities for her three youngest children.
But Mary, now of an age at which the courts would honor her wishes, and not trusting what the future might hold, chose to stay in her present circumstances in North Kansas City while her mother and her brothers moved to the Northern Indiana area. She did her very best to keep in touch with her precious brothers through cards and letters. As the big sister, Mary's love for them and their love for her knew no bounds.
Mary enrolled in North Kansas City High in the Fall of 1937. She absolutely loved school and treasured everything about the academic and social experience. At "Northtown" she found herself...a sense of identiy, a sense of belonging, and a sense of extended family. Her youthful joy and accomplishments were found in numerous scholastic honors, academic societies and various clubs, especially the Pep Club. Her beauty nd popularity culminated her senior year as she was chosen the Owl Queen of North Kansas City High School for 1941. She made many dear and lifelong friends, of both the faculty and student body...and several are here with us today.
While a sophomore at "Northtown" and living with one of the several families in the area that had been providing her with a place to stay, she had an unexpected visit one day in 1938 from a "Northtown" junior class schoolmate...John Raymond Scott. Unbeknown to Mary, John Raymond and his older brother, Crawford, had been out riding around "Northtown" and were discussing that good looking young woman Mary Roy when Crawford (who was two years older, but who knew a pretty young woman when he saw one!) "dared" his brother John Raymond to go up to her door and ask her for a date! Crawford pulled up in front of the house...Raymond hopped out...and as they say, the rest is history...64-plus years of marriage!
Married on Oct. 11, 1941, she and her husband, Raymond, were immediately confronted with the reality of the coming of World War II which began for the United States with the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Her now brother-in-law, Crawford, who adored her as much as she did him, was killed during the battle at Pearl Harbor while stationed as a U.S. Marine on board the USS Arizona.
As her husband and her husband's brother Bill went off to war, like many families she found it necessary to consolidate expenses and moved in with her in-laws. But, for her this provided in many respects the sense of family closeness that she dearly loved. Her father-in-law, John Edward, was now "Pop" and would remain so in her heart forever. And Grace, her new "Mom" helped immeasurably with her new baby daughter and would be a homemaking inspiration to her throughout her life. Her new sister-in-law, Lois Jean, was the sister she never had...and her brother-in-law, Eddy Lee, was a feisty, little red head and another "little brother".
As the early years of the war was progressed, she worked for the U.S. Department of Treasury...and the North American Aviation bomber manufacturing plant as one of the many American women proudly serving their country as a "Rosie the Riveter" until her husband came home from the war in September 1945.
Mary loved being a mother and she was so proud and delighted with her eight adoring children...who "all knew a Great Mom when they saw one!"
She was first blessed with Judith Pamela in 1943; John Edward the Second in 1947; Raymond Crawford in 1951; James Michael in 1955; Jeanna Marie in 1956; William Glen in 1958; Rebecca Caye in 1959; and Lois Janelle in 1962. Anyone who can remember the regular attendance of this entire family at this same First Baptist Church of Lowry City, Mo., during the 1960s remembers quite a parade of little boys in suits and ties, little girls in frilliy dresses and patent leather shoes...and the strollers, diaper bags and baby bottles galore!
In each of our lives, we usually find "our place" that special place or thing which sustains us...which nourishes our spirit...and which gives us purpose and meaning to our life. Mary Scott was no exception. Mary's place, so to speak, could be found in three things: her faith, her family and her friends...and I guess we should add a special fourth, her flowers.
Mary was saved by faith at the Lin-Wayne Baptist Church in Kansas City, Mo., in 1943. She liveed an exemplary life of faith and inspiration for her family, her friends and her fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. She thirsted for fellowship at the First Baptist Church and attended as often as her health would permit.
She drew spiritual nourishment from her daily or nightly readings from the Word of God. Her well-worn Bible is replete with lines, underlines, margin notes, bookmarks, inspirational messages and scraps of paper with biblical quotations or references.
Some of her favorite inserts in her Bible include:
"Make yourself familiar with the angels, and behold them frequently in spirit; for without being seen, they are present with you."
"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change...the courage to change the things I can...and the wisdom to know the difference."
"The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail."
And finally, "Love is the only law you need."
And on the walls of her home hang inspirational needlepoint and framed messages of her faith that include:
"Though oft I feel discouraged, I know that God is there: And even when I whisper, He hears my faintest prayer."
"Those who wait on the Lord...shall mount up with wings like eagles!"
And finally, "I put all my eggs in one basket; and gave the basket to God."
Her faith was incredibly tested in 1991, when at the age of 69, she underwent surgery for colon cancer. Concurrent with this colostomy procedure, a lumpectomy was performed on a suspicious lump on her breast and tragically she was diagnosed with breast cancer, as well. Thirty days later she underwent a complete masectomy. But, like the strong, resilient woman of faith that she was, she never complained or asked, "Why me?" She just got on with dong what she did best..."living and loving those around her!"
Her family and the home she provided them were so important to her. Mary was a loving homemaker her entire life. She particularly enjoyed sharing her remarkable cooking talents with both family and friends. She treasured her children...and their children...and their children's children...but she loved yours, too!
She had a kind spirit...a tneder hand...a gentle smile...and loving...for all of the "little people" that she ever met. Reflecting back on her childhood, she simply wanted to give all the love that she had missed...to those precious little ones who need it the most. And when little children would meet her for the first time, they knew of her loving heart!
Her home was also furnished with many framed mementos expressing this love:
"God bless my little kitchen, I love its every nook, nad bless me as I do my work, wash pots and pans and cook."
"Grandparents always have time for love."
"Grandchildren are the treasures of our golden years."
"A house is made of brick and stone, a home is made of love alone."
"Love grows happy hearts."
"Those who give love, gather love."
"By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; and by knowledge the rooms are filled with precious and pleasant riches."
And finally..."Before I got married, I had eight theories about bringing up children; now, I have eight children and no theories."
And, now to you, her friends...her oh so dear friends...who filled her life with a storehouse of memories...and a houseful of gifts and treasures...and cards and letters. Just know that if you ever gave Mary Scott a gift, a card, a letter, any simple part of your caring and love for her...she kept it...she put it in a special place...it's still there...in her home...treasured like the most precious gift ever imagined!
Each of you made her life so much richer! She would often reminisce about each and every one of you...and how you had influenced her life...and how you had made her a better person for having known you. Thank you again for being here today to honor her and her family.
And, let me close with a note regarding her fondness for all living things...but particularly her fondness for all types of plants and flowers...as they brightened her home and her heart.
Mary found a therapeutic outlet in the care and nurturing of virtually any domesticated plant and flower in which she came in contact. There was always one more place...for one more plant...for one more flower...in her yard, her home and her life. If it could be grown, her "green thumb" could do it!
She had a special fondness for all types of Roses.
In her home, she had numerous plaques and needlepoint as framed reminders of her love for flowers...which include:
"She who plants a garden...plants happiness."
And, "Count your garden by flowers, never by the leaves that fall - Count your days by golden hours, don't remember clouds at all - Count your nights by stars not shadows, count your life by smiles, not tears - And with joy on every birthday, count your age by friends, not years."
And, so my friends...and members of the extended Scott family...let us count our days with this wonderful woman as some of the most precious and blessed of our lives...and look toward that day when will be with her again.
Would a rose by any other name be half as sweet?
Mary Scott is forever that precious rose.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2006, at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Lowry City. Burial was in the Lowry City Cemetery. Rev. Kent Parson officiated and Dennis and Beverly Goskie provided music. Casketbearers were Jeffrey Roy, Robert Roy, Kenneth Roy, Joshua Schmutz, Elijah Schmutz and Aaron DuRall.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established at the First Baptist Church of Lowry City to honor her life. Arrangements, Sheldon-Goodrich Funeral Home, Osceola, Mo.