Remembering Mary Eliza Whittle Scott

On the 110th anniversary of Mary's birth on Oct. 4th, 1902, we highlight her later years.  Jeanene wrote about her activities following Kenneth's passing:

Mary had a keen interest in tapes and books, particularly those on gospel doctrine and the writings of the prophets, and she spent many happy, productive hours studying and enjoying their contents.  She constantly encouraged her numerous grandchildren to serve missions and obtain college educations.  She generously provided funding for some of her younger children's missionary sons and daughters as they served throughout the world.  She and Kenneth always encouraged them to live gospel-centered lives and spoke forcefully to them about their own deep commitment through Christmas messages, and by tapes and videos that are treasures to all of their descendants.

Mary and Kenneth had thoroughly enjoyed their Utah years, and Richard and Jeanene did everything they could to make their lives comfortable.  Jeanene helped them with many of their day-to-day needs, such as fixing Mary's hair, and taking them grocery shopping; in addition, she handled all of their finances, including sorting out their many investments.  In 1988, the same year that Kenneth passed away, Richard was called as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, and as a result his responsibilities and travel schedule grew heavier.  After discussion with the family, Mary moved to from Salt Lake City to an assisted living facility in Atlanta, where Gerald and Betty watched over her with great care.  She remained in Atlanta until her passing in 1998.  

Following is Gerald's tender account of Mary's final days.  Thank you, Gerald, for sharing this with us!

Friday, 5 June 1998

…Mother’s speech has become very garbled and she seems to be having difficulty articulating her words. One of the last things she said, she spoke to Betty in the emergency room of the hospital. She said as clearly as any one could: “I am lonesome for Kenneth.”

Walt, Mary, Kenneth, and Richard, undated

Saturday, 6 June 1998

I spoke with most of the family members today, each one personally. Richard had arranged a conference call with Wayne, Ann, Mitch, Richard Betty and I. After bringing everyone up to date on Mother’s condition and prognosis, I asked each person individually if they felt we should give Mother a blessing…intended to ask the Lord to grant her a peaceful passing according to his will. Most seemed to feel this was an appropriate….Richard suggested that I give the blessing, but rely upon the Spirit for the direction the blessing would take.

We all felt that this was a wise course. I asked all of the Family to join with me in a fast to prepare for the blessing that I would give to Mother at 7:00 PM Sunday evening. Following this call I called Walt, explained the situation and found him to be agreeable to the course we would follow.

Gerald, Wayne, Walt, Mitchel, and Richard at Mary's funeral

We continue to spend time with Mother in the hospital, each day. We are having Annette and those who assist her stay with Mother. They see that Mother is fed and receives whatever is required to make her as comfortable as possible and provide her with extra care.

Sunday 7 June 1998

This afternoon, we gathered as a family in Mother’s hospital room. Greg, Mitchel’s son, had driven down from Greensboro so that he could assist me in the blessing. Carol had each of her children present (except Daniel who was working): Rachel, Emily, Laura. Betty was there and Annette Taylor who has given Mother such complete and loving care, was present as well.

Each of her sons had called her during the afternoon and had spoken to Mother and she was at times able to respond audibly to them. It was evident that she could hear their voices from the expression on her face and in her eyes.

At 7:00 PM, with members of our family all over the country joining in fasting and prayer, Greg and I stood at the head of Mother’s bed. I laid my hands on Mothers head, joined by Greg Scott by my side. I expressed our love for Mother, and gave her a blessing of peace and comfort. I explained to our Heavenly Father that we did not wish to alter in any way his timetable for Mother’s passing, but that we wished Mother and He to know that as a family, were ready for her to leave this life and join her beloved Kenneth when the time was appropriate. Near the conclusion of the blessing, I asked , as a petition to Heavenly Father, to bless Mother with peace of mind, and freedom from any pain to the extent that could be made possible and that her passing would be sweet and peaceful when the time came. (The blessing was longer than this, but this is the essence.) I felt a great sense of peace at the conclusion of the blessing. Greg expressed a similar feeling.

It was an emotional and tearful experience for each one present. Almost immediately after the blessing Mother’s respiration rate slowed down noticeably, and she did seem more at peace. 

Mary showing off a flower bed.  Does anyone know the date on this photo?

Monday, 8 June 1998 

I called Dr Cucher’s office shortly after his office opened….I said that speaking on behalf of the family, and in accordance with Mother’s living will we wanted all life support functions to be withdrawn from Mother. Only that her breathing was to be assisted with the oxygen she had been receiving. He agreed with this action and said he would prescribe whatever pain medication was needed.

…I told Dr. Cucher, that we wanted to have Mother come to our home as soon as we could make the necessary arrangements for the needed equipment. 

Wednesday, 10 June 1998  

On Tuesday, the hospice people arranged for an equipment supplier to deliver a hospital style bed, an oxygen generator, other needed equipment and a supply of medication for Mother.

An ambulance service brought Mother to our home after she was released from the hospital. Betty and Carol and Annette were all there when Mother arrived and very quickly had her settled and comfortable in her new surroundings. It was good to have Mother with us again.

For a time, in the hospital Mother would open her eyes when you called her by name; she was not able to communicate by voice but seemed to respond. The last time I remember Mother really communicating in a meaningful way was when Dr. Kehl, her very faithful home teacher, and member of our ward Bishopric visited her. When he came in her room, he raised his right index finger and spoke to Mother, she recognized his voice, opened her eyes, saw that personal sign he always gave her and she responded by raising her right index finger.

All of us felt that Mother seemed to be more comfortable and peaceful, now that she was with us and surrounded by those who loved her. Especially Betty, Carol and Annette Taylor gave her much kind and loving care during her last days on earth. Carol, because of her skills and experience as an intensive care nurse for many years, was particularly effective in providing Mother the skilled care she needed. She spent many long hours with her, day and night.

It seemed that Betty was almost always by Mother’s side. She was not able to sleep well during this time and while we had 24-hour care for Mother, Betty was with Mother as well.

Betty and Mom had a wonderful relationship, which began from the very first day they met. Mother had always wanted a daughter and Betty filled that need beautifully as her first daughter in law. They were always close throughout the nearly fifty years they were together. I know Mother’s life was greatly enriched by the kindness and love my wonderful wife gave my Mother in so many, many ways. Especially was this true during the last eight years Mother made her home in Atlanta.

The Hospice people came regularly to see Mother. They were wonderful. I can’t say enough about the blessing and benefits of the Hospice program. Its medical focus is to provide the care needed when it becomes evident the patient will not recover. They are dedicated to making this period of life as comfortable and peaceful as it possible to make it.

Annette Taylor who had been Mother’s primary caregiver during the last five years also continued her kind and loving care of Mother. The quality of Mother’s life over this entire period has been greatly increased because of Annette’s constant kindness and attention. Over this time a deep and lasting bond of affection developed between Mother and Annette. The family will ever be grateful for Annette and the love and care she has so faithfully given our Mother. 

Saturday, 13 June 1998

This morning I had to leave and travel to Dahlonega, Georgia to speak to a Regional Young Adult Conference convened on the North Georgia College campus. I felt uneasy about going and was promoted to give Mother a blessing before I left. As I laid my hands on Mother’s head I knew she would not be with us much longer. I was prompted to give her a blessing of peace and freedom from pain, and to assure her that she should feel no restraints from her family when the time came for her to leave this life. That the Lord, in his own way and in his own time, would make that moment known to her in a clear and unmistakable manner.

Sunday, 14 June 1998  

Neither Betty nor Carol and I attended our Church meetings today. We wanted to be with mother. Annette had spent the night with Mother and had gone back to here apartment to rest.

Mother had a peaceful day. In the late afternoon, I was downstairs, alone with Mother. Betty and Carol had gone upstairs briefly. I stood by her bed and looked at her kind face and soft white hair and silently thanked her and my Eternal Father for her remarkable influence upon my life. It became apparent that a change in Mother’s condition was occurring. Her breathing was becoming much more shallow and the artery in her neck was pulsing much slower.

I called to Betty and Carol and they quickly joined me. Betty and I stood together on one side and Carol on the other side of Mother’s bed. Mother’s breathing became slower and shallower and finally ceased completely. Our mother passed away very peacefully, and, I feel, with no pain or discomfort at 5:44 PM Sunday, 14 June 1998.

While it was a tearful and sad experience for us, I also know it was a peaceful passing and joyous reunion with her beloved Kenneth and others of her remarkable ancestry. While we will all miss Mother’s happy smile, her quick wit and frequent expressions of appreciation and love for her family, I know she is in a far better place--where our Mother, Mary “Queen of Scott’s,” can once again continue her eternal progress, side by side with her eternal companion, our beloved Father, Kenneth LeRoy Scott.

Mary Eliza Whittle Scott, Queen of Scotts

Mary's Letter to Her Sons

This is the 25 of July 1980 that I wrote this and I’ve been wanting all of the children to get it and I didn’t know how I could get to you otherwise, so here’s what I’m going to say:

Mitchel, Wayne, Mary, Gerald, Kenneth, Walter, and Richard Scott on Washington, D.C. temple grounds.  Date unknown.

I wish all mothers could feel the gratitude that I feel now. I have just finished reading the tributes you five sons have paid your father and me describing the years of growing and developing. Parents everywhere should be so blessed. You each told us that we weren’t perfect but you could feel from our love and concern for each of you our desire that you have your free agency which is the right of every person on earth; the way you used it was and is the way Heavenly Father had planned for its use. We all need freedom of choice if we are to grow and develop in the fulfilling of our mission on earth. We are placed here for that very purpose.

You do have a rich heritage. Through the genealogical research that Jeanene and I have done, we know that the lines on both sides of the family are choice. It was our obligation not to mar this. It is and was a big responsibility to be parents of five choice spirits of our Heavenly Father and I am sure He was guiding us all the time. He needed great men in these trying times who would re main true and faithful.

Each of you have chosen companions who are equal to you in every respect. They have given you love and support in every way so you could grow even more in the works of the Lord. How grateful your Dad and I are that we enjoy each family, the grandchildren, those that are married -- husbands and wives for they also are teaching our great grandchildren the most important lessons that in this life that we must serve and love our Heavenly Father.

You missed the teachings of the Gospel in your early years that your children and our grandchildren are now receiving. It was difficult for me. The basic principles of character were taught with a firm hair brush and hand. I wanted children whom the Lord would love and bless. I knew that obedience, truthfulness, honesty, integrity, self reliance, and dependability were some of the requirements.

Kenneth and Mary Scott in front of the Washington, D.C. temple.  Date unknown.

While Dad’s religious background and mine were different for a number of years, we were in harmony then and even more so now. He has been an inspiration and help always, but since his baptism it has been a richer endorsement. We talk more of the Gospel. I was at fault, I suppose in the beginning. I wanted him to understand how very important my membership in the Church was. I wanted him to want what I had all on his own and not because I wanted it. That is the only explanation I have--not a good one, but I’m not sure I’d do it differently if I had another chance, knowing your father’s need to know for himself.  But how grateful I am that he does know! My mother told me before we were married that she was sure he would join the Church. Then Walter’s patriarchal blessing confirmed this.

Heavenly Father wanted each of you to be able to return to Him so He did protect you through your early years and you are now each living these principles of your own free will and choice.

Thanks to the wonderful wives who encourage and sustain you also. Let us all endure to the end.

Gratefully and with much love,
Mom

Kenneth:  Very, very nice. You're a sweet girl and we love you.

Utah years; Kenneth's passing and funeral

From a taped interview with Mary on August 22, 1989

In Kenneth’s later years, he had a number serious illnesses and operations, including receiving a pace maker for his heart and an operation to repair an aneurysm of the aorta.

Mary with Kenneth in the hospital in 1984

...We sold our home in Leisure World about 1985 and moved out to Utah. He was in the hospital out here, too. He never was the same after his aneurysm.

Jeanene Scott, daughter-in-law, wrote an account of Kenneth’s and Mary’s years in Utah
Mary and Kenneth moved to Salt Lake City in 1985 after visiting there and feeling it would be a good place for them to be.  Gerald was in Georgia, Mitchel in Pennsylvania, Walter in Virginia, and Wayne in Maryland.  Many of their grandchildren were attending colleges in Utah, with the promise of many more to follow, and Richard and his family were there, as well as many of Mary's extended family.

Mary and Kenneth, circa 1985

It was a good move for them and they loved living there and being so close to the center of the Church.  Their home was the center of family activity for anyone passing through.  Kenneth never tired of looking lovingly at the majestic Wasatch mountains and commenting, "I love those mountains.  Aren't they beautiful?  You know, I never lived where there were mountains before."  When the family visited them they would often see Kenneth standing at the entrance to their street, both hands on his cane and gazing admiringly at the mountains.

Excellent medical care was provided for them.  Mary underwent easy out-patient cataract surgery—a truly latter-day miracle, restoring her vision to where she really didn't need glasses because lens implants corrected a life-long vision problem.  Kenneth was hospitalized twice, but bounced back with his well-proven ability of expressing great faith and asking for his blessing of good health.  They loved meeting with the Brethren and their wives and their love was reciprocated; many of them still inquire about Mary.  They loved to be able to attend General Conference and Mary especially enjoyed sitting second row and center in the Tabernacle.  Mary was present the day her son was called to the Council of the Twelve.

Mary’s account of Kenneth’s death (from the taped interview mentioned above)
His memory was beginning to go and he was very listless because he couldn’t do any thing. He couldn’t drive the car. He couldn’t climb the stairs at Conference so we’d stay home and listen to General Conference. He just didn’t want to walk anymore. Then we got a male nurse to take care of him. He would come every day except Saturdays and Sundays.. He’d give him his shower and get him cleaned up. A bus from a place where they entertained older people would come and pick him up and he’d go and be with them for about four hours and then returned home. I’d feed him and he’d go right to bed.

The morning that he died, he was all bathed and ready to go. He came in and looked at the breakfast table and said he didn’t want to eat. He went in and lay on the bed. He put his right hand straight up like he was greeting some body, took about three or four deep breaths and that was the last. That’s how easily he passed away.

Kenneth was 89 years old. He died on May 17,1988.

Funeral Services for Kenneth Leroy Scott on May 20, 1988

Family Prayer by J. Mitchel Scott, a Son of Kenneth. L. Scott

Invocation by Lawrence Richard Scott, a Grandson

Remarks by Bishop Armon Johansen

Remarks by Walter Conrad Scott, a Son

Vocal solo by Connie Jean Sundwall

Remarks by Elder Richard G. Scott, a Son

Remarks by President Gordon B. Hinckley

Vocal Duet by Lewis Farr and Connie Jean Sundwall
Accompanied by Sister Gloria Haladay

Closing Prayer by Johnathan Willard Scott, a Grandson

Burial in Wasatch Memorial Cemetery
Highland and 33rd Streets, Salt Lake City, Utah

Dedication of the Grave by K. Wayne Scott, a Son

Excused: Gerald L. Scott, a Son, Serving as President of the Nevada Las Vegas Mission,
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

General Authorities of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in attendance
President Gordon B. Hinckley of the First Presidency
Elder Marvin J. Ashton and Elder L. Tom Perry of the Council of the Twelve Apostles
Elder Richard G. Scott,  Elder Hugh W. Pinnock, and Elder James A. Paramore of the Presidency of the First Quorum of the Seventy;
Elder J. Thomas Fyans, Elder William R. Bradford, Elder Rex C. Reeve of the Quorum of the Seventy; and Elder Eldred G. Smith, Patriarch Emeritus.
President Ezra Taft Benson attended the viewing but was unable to stay for the funeral and asked to be excused.

Life Sketch of Kenneth L. Scott by Walter C. Scott
On behalf of the family, I have been asked to take a few moments to review some of the high lights of Dad’s life--a great and inspiring life.

It’s a difficult assignment. Such a great life to try to review in a moment or two and it’s made even more difficult by the presence of so many of you noble and great people here who are his friends. Rightfully, my eldest brother should be giving this talk, as has been explained, he is on an assignment with the church as a mission president and I recognize my other three brothers would have been far better qualified to give this talk than I, and I did my best to work it out that way, but it didn’t quite turn out that way.

Last night, in preparation for our experiences here today, a number of the members of our family gathered at Mom’s home and we reviewed many of the experiences that we remembered. [We had] a fine time thinking of Dad and the many characteristics that we are so proud of in him. I pray that I might say a few things taken from those shared experiences that would be an appropriate memorial to him.

As has been mentioned, Dad was the eldest of five children of Elzumer and Carrie Scott who was born February 2 in 1899 in Chicago, Illinois. He lived much of his youth in the Chillicothe, Missouri area. I recall him mentioning several times the very small school that he attended. I think there were eight in his class. And while that school wasn’t very sophisticated by our present standards, it evidently did a very good job because he certainly could spell better than I could and was very good in many other skills such as writing and math and other things that he had mastered. It also, I think, contributed to his character.

His family later moved to Idaho and after he had served in the army in World War I, he re turned to that area. His father was in banking and Dad became involved in banking and agriculture credit which formed a foundation for his career.

It was in that period that he met Mom, and in our discussion last night, Mom shared some stories with us and quite a few things about the courtship [that] I won’t have time to review with you, but she did mention one thing: and that was a recollection of the important of the role her mother, Grandma Whittle, had played in the establishment of this family. She had always been a devout member of the Church and recognized how important temple marriage and things of that sort are to a solid family, but she also recognized the good qualities in Dad and had a realization that he would one day join the church. And so she encouraged Mother to marry and we’re grateful for that.

Mary and Kenneth on their honeymoon in July, 1925

During this period in Idaho, the first three sons of the family were born. Dad had an interesting period when he served as a receiver for a bank that was being liquidated during the early days of the depression. Again, we gained some insights of his character last night as Mom reflected upon those experiences, one of them being an assignment when he had been sent to collect some of the assets in the form of a loan from a poor family on an Indian reservation. She remembered how they drove up to this very simple home and he saw the blue jeans sewed together to form a curtain at the entrance and other signs of severe poverty and turned and said. “These people need what little money they have more than the bank does,” and went off.

Mom also recalled an experience of when she was traveling with him in this period. He had gotten some gas at a very remote gas station. They had driven on some 40 miles and he realized that there had been an error made, that the attendant had given him $5.00 too much change. He turned the car around and returned to restore situation, feeling that integrity and honesty was too important to pass up in the interest of convenience. This was characteristic of him as an honest man.

In 1934, Dad was called to Washington D. C., and he became one of the founders of the Farm Credit Administration. As one of the architects of that organization, he had a great deal to do with the philosophy of that group, a very conservative thought that the capital [that] was provided by the federal government should over time be paid back by the farmers who benefited through that system. He thought that they should always work to eliminate their jobs and convert that system to a farm owned and operated system. This was rather characteristic of his conservative, sensible, common sense approach to many things.

Kenneth with a farmer, unknown date, photograph by Gerald

As was mentioned earlier, during the Eisenhower administration, when President Benson came back as Secretary of Agriculture, he asked Dad to join his staff. It was interesting--Dad told the story once how he had resisted that invitation at first because I guess he was enjoying the work he was doing and felt that he was doing a thing of use and value to the country and perhaps because he was a little more sheltered from the immediate political realities of the Washington scene.

But his supreme respect for President Benson and his shared commitments to principles and ideals soon changed that situation and he had opportunity to serve in a very, very profitable, enjoyable period of his life with so many good members of the Church and with the close association with the prophet. [I’m] sure he was not selected for that assignment because of academic accomplishments or qualifications but because of the practical knowledge and proven abilities and integrity that he had demonstrated elsewhere in his life and his wisdom and judgement and his ability to get along well with people.

We just heard President Benson kind of chuckling and commenting about how Dad was such a good man, even when he saw him with that smoldering pipe the first time. President Benson had a great impact--as many of you have had--on his life.

During that time, [in] that type of position, Dad served in what they called the “Little Cabinet” of the administration and as such it was his right and privilege to receive a good many honors, which he shunned. He was always very humble and liked to be in the background rather than in a high profile type position. Years later, this same characteristic showed up in a sentimental move that he made to Salt Lake. He visited the Secretary of Agriculture’s office. They invited him to sit in the chair and he said, “Oh no, I couldn’t do that. My place was always standing beside the Secretary. I would feel very out of place in that seat.”

In 1955, Dad joined the Church after he had sent two sons on missions and for many years supported and encouraged active participation in the church programs by his family. It was because of his association with you and so many other good people, and good home teachers and good stake missionaries, that this finally came about.

It was certainly interesting to look back and see what impact adding the fullness of the restored Gospel meant to his strong foundation from a good Christian home which was his heritage. He was baptized by my brother Richard; he was confirmed by President Benson. My brother, Mitchell, ordained him a deacon; Wayne a teacher, Mitchell again a priest, I had the privilege of ordaining him an elder, and then we got a little more horse power in here with Harold B. Lee when he became a seventy, and President Barker when he became a high priest.

He hadn’t been in the Church officially very long when he was called to serve as the clerk in the ward and shortly thereafter as a Bishop’s counselor. He also served as the genealogy librarian for the stake. But during the time he was a Bishopric member, he set a wonderful example for the family.

He realized that there were some short comings in his own knowledge in the Gospel and back ground and so he used to get up about 5:30 each morning during the school year and gather up some of the seminary students and then he and they would attend the seminary classes in order for him to fill the weaknesses he felt that he had.

He also had a really great missionary spirit especially in extending his testimony of the Gospel to his extended family. As a matter fact, he was so persistent in it and used a family chain letter to communicate to these people that they finally stopped sending him the letter. It wasn’t he who was cut off, of course, but they who were cut off from the potential blessings in that way.

As the Eisenhower administration ended, Dad was about 61 years old and he started a new phase of his career, joining the Inter-American Bank and contributing in important ways to the agricultural economies to a number of Central and South American countries. I was always impressed that at that age he would undertake to learn a foreign language, which he did.

Just a few years after that period, Dad had a real battle with cancer. This demonstrated, I think, many of the other great qualities of this man–his patience and long-suffering through that very difficult period, never complaining.

He had great faith.  He appreciated what was done for him. He never lost his perspective and there were expressions of admiration by the medical people who treated him. Finally, the illness became so severe, that in the last operation, the doctor said they just couldn’t treat him. It had spread so far and they felt the best thing to do was let him enjoy what they thought would be a short period remaining in his life. But his faith and the love of life that he had, some priesthood blessings, and, of course, the blessings of the Lord that came from those, conquered that serious illness. He completely recovered and never had a re-occurrence of it.

I suppose the highlight of that experience was when he was set apart as a temple sealer by President Kimball and promised at that time as he was recovering from his illness, that he would have the strength and vigor of youth, which he had for many years.

He loved his calling as a sealer and was able to seal a number of the members of the family and many others.

Mary and Kenneth, temple workers in Washington, D.C.

He has many successes in his life but I’m sure that none of them were greater than the successes and work that he had done in the family. First of all, he was a good husband. He taught us to respect our mother, he call her “Little Lady,” an expression that we all remember so well, his “Eeeeternal Companion” as he referred to her. He was a good father to all of us and I think it was wonderful that he and Mom were so successful in never showing favorites. As they expressed it, we all had favorite things that we did but none of us were favorites.

I can’t recall any formal lessons that Dad taught in the sense of a home teaching lesson or anything of that sort, but he was remarkably successful in teaching us many important lessons in life, mostly by his example. I think he was supremely successful in building self confidence in the members of his family.  I recall a number of experiences that some of us had—opportunities that he created through friends of his--for one to be a fire watch in the forest service, another as a chef in the lodge at Bryce Canyon, another to work on a cattle ranch in western Nebraska, oyster boating and things of this sort, all of which contributed a great deal.

Dad was great at object lessons. He was a very frugal person. I recall, as my brothers do, a number of experiences that we had. He, early in our lives, had a shop in our home in order to keep us active and away from things that might have been less desirable. He kept us in materials by occasionally calling the U.S. Printing Office and asking them to dump a truck of packing crates out at the house. It was our job to take all of these apart and straighten all the nails which had to be reused, and we all learned great lessons from his teachings of that type.

He did have one problem in his teaching: a lot of trouble with disciplinary actions. As we recalled--some of my brothers recalled--that they could always get him to give up his intent to discipline [if they got] him to smile. And he just couldn’t control it from that point. He was always involved and very supportive of his family, participating in blessings and baptisms and marriages and other things. Several of us had very choice experiences as he worked with us in his retired years in helping us to start business of our own. He participated and gave financial support as well as a great deal of counsel and advice and help and active participation in those adventures. I know that he supported many other projects. I don’t know the details, because he was never one to admit to this, but I know Mom knows of many things that he had done to help worthy projects.

He was always a good provider. He made wise investments and has materially blessed his family, even the five branches have been very, very materially blessed and are able to do many things as the result of his generosity and that of Mom.

One thing that we all remember was that he certainly stressed the eternal family and he prob ably will best be remembered as the patriarch of the family— a family of some 65 members at this point and growing.

Kenneth holding Kenneth W. Scott, son of Richard and Jeanene, circa 1963, photograph by Gerald

There are many other things but I would just like to say that we are grateful for the many qualities that he demonstrated and for the wonderful life that he lived. I feel confident that he has fulfilled his mission here in this life. He has truly endured to the end and through great adversity at times. He has demonstrated many Christ-like qualities. I believe that he has earned the accolade from the Lord, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant,” and those blessings that flow from that. We’re very grateful for his life; for his example, the blessing that he has been to us. We’re grateful for our testimonies of the truth of the Gospel that makes all this so important and wonderful. Especially, we’re grateful for the blessing that he and Mom have created for us to enjoy an eternal family life together.

Remarks of President Gordon B. Hinckley at the Funeral of Kenneth L. Scott
My brethren and sisters, I feel like an intruder, as I have listened to the prayers and the remarks that have been said, particularly by these sons, in this service which is essentially a family service. Beautiful spirit! What a wonder ful thing it is, really, that children, men of capacity and ability in their own right, can stand and bear tribute to a good father and a good mother.

Families are the very essence of everything. What a tremendous thing, that there is in the hearts of each of the members of this family, a certain faith concerning the eternity of life, that there is no question, that there is absolute assurance, total confidence, and the separation of which they have spoken this day is at best only temporary and really when all is said and done of small consequence. 

Death is a part of life.  It’s a fundamental part of life. We cannot go forward, progress eternally without death. It’s a blessing from the Lord. Of course, there is sorrow. There’s always sorrow where there’s love, when there comes a time of parting. The Lord said, “Thou shalt life together in love, in so much that thou shalt weep for the loss of them that die. But they that die in me shall not taste of death for it shall be sweet unto them.”

I knew Brother Scott a little, not well. I met him in the Washington Temple. I met him on two or three occasions. I didn’t know him so well but I had known his sons and they are of the essence of their father. Men of faith, men of capacity, men of ability, men of appreciate and respect and love for others, concern for others. Men who know what it’s all about.

We have a son who labored under Richard when he presided over the mission in Argentina and I think he might be prone to say that his mission president has a greater influence upon him than his father had. He has that kind of respect and love for this great and good and man who presided over him.

I wish President Benson had found it possible to remain here and speak a little. I’ve heard him tell at least a dozen times of the incident of when he went into Brother Scott’s office, as I remember, and found him smoking his pipe and of the tremendous changes that occurred in his life as a result of his beloved companion and her influence on that life until he reached the point where he served in the most sacred of all work, the sealing work in the temple, exercising the only authority on the face of the whole earth which reaches beyond the veil of death, that authority which is eternal in its consequence.

I bring you the love, comfort, respect, of all of my brethren, the First Presidency, the Twelve, the Seventy, and Bishopric, who have come to know something of the virtues of this good family. May there be peace in your hearts. May there be that joy which comes of the knowledge that he is yours and you are his, under a compact which time cannot destroy and death cannot break and which will go on eternally. May the love that you feel today for him who was your husband, your companion, your father, your grandfather, strengthen as the years pass and may there be that sweet and satisfying comfort which comes from Him who said, “I, even I am He that comforteth you.”

We bear testimony of His goodness. We bear testimony of the Gospel which came to motivate his life. We know that his Redeemer and our Redeemer lives, and that as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all are made alive and as the veil closes here, it opens sometime for each of us again.

I suppose all of you know that President Romney [President Marion G. Romney of First Presidency] died this morning, at about the same age. It is a sweet thing that it happened when a man has lived for 89 years with the respect and confidence of his neighbors and the love of his family. Maybe it’s time to go on to another place, to walk another road, to share blessings along the way in another sphere.

I bear witness and testimony of these things, and express to you our love. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

FAMILY HISTORY EFFORTS BY KENNETH, MARY & OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS

About a year before her passing in 1995, daughter-in-law Jeaneane Scott wrote about how Mary and Kenneth became involved in family history research, along with other family members, making it possible for many of their ancestors to receive temple ordinances:

"When Richard and Jeanene lost two of their children, a daughter during a premature birth and a two-year-old son in a heart surgery, in a six-week period in the fall of 1957, they had a very strong impression that as many of Kenneth's ancestors' records as possible needed to be gathered for temple ordinances.  Kenneth was not a member at the time and thus nothing had been done about them.  He wrote to family members and obtained as much information as he could from them.  Research was begun from these very sketchy records.

One day Kenneth asked Mary a question that was to change their spiritual future completely.  In a moment of deep contemplation he asked, "How is it that Richard and Jeanene can take the loss of their two small children without becoming bitter about it?"  In an answer that Mary has called sheer inspiration, she said, "Kenneth, they were married in the temple and these children were born in the covenant and will be theirs throughout eternity, but we have not been to the temple and our five sons will not be ours after we leave this life."  That was all she said, but it had a profound effect on Kenneth.  Within a few weeks he started meeting with the stake missionaries and was baptized on October 4, 1958.  On August 1, 1960, Kenneth and Mary were sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple to four of their sons and later to the fifth.

The Scott family research began in 1958 as Jeanene began combing the records at the Library of Congress and Daughters of the American Revolution Library in Washington, D.C.  Mary and Kenneth supplied her with all they had and the work expanded from there.  Kenneth was an Assistant Secretary of Agriculture under Secretary Ezra Taft Benson at the time and was extremely busy, but he and Mary began visiting state historical societies and genealogical libraries wherever their travels took them on business or vacations.

Undated notes in Mary's handwriting about her Shields ancestors

In 1981, Kenneth and Mary turned over this collection, made in numerous notebooks, to Jeanene who separated them into family headings as they pertained to mostly statistics on individuals of Scott family names in certain localities.

Undated notes in Kenneth's handwriting about his uncle, Oscar (Nick) Scott and his family

This largely unconnected collection of names contained in surname files in Jeanene’s possession, needs to someday be checked against the International Genealogical Index and submitted for temple ordinance work.  Many will be found there with work completed because so many United States marriage and birth and death records have been filmed and extracted by the Church Genealogical Society.

Mary's notes on Shannon Scott Jensen's birth and baby blessing

On a vacation trip to Quebec, Canada, Mary and Kenneth found a professional researcher whom Mary was able to pay to research several of her French-Canadian lines back to France.  She sent this information to her Whittle family organization and they arranged for the temple work to be done.  She also accompanied Jeanene on her genealogical trips to the Library of Congress, the DAR Library, Richmond, Baltimore and Annapolis libraries, and sometimes went on her own to the Library of Congress.  Whenever she and Kenneth went on trips to states where his ancestors' records might be found, they would stop at courthouses and libraries and gather records.  They found dozens of family surnames that will connect to his family at a future time.

For many years Mary had kept old obituary clippings and family announcements and these have all helped to fill in histories on their ancestors.  Mary loved to copy and recopy the family histories.  She and Kenneth accepted a call to serve in their stake family history center which he directed and served there faithfully helping others in their research.  At this time she also obtained from the Church Historical Department the patriarchal blessings of her ancestors.

Mary's notes on callings held by Mitch and Sue

Mary and Jeanene continued to research in Washington, D.C. with occasional trips to neighboring Annapolis, Maryland Hall of Records and the Richmond Genealogical Library.  Every book containing family surnames was carefully scrutinized and connecting family material was recorded and vital names and data were submitted to the temples.

In 1965, Jeanene moved to Cordoba, Argentina with their three children for a four-year period where her husband, Richard, was called as a mission president.  Mary made her last bus trip to the Library of Congress because it became too dangerous for her to go alone and she didn’t drive.

Jeanene returned in 1969 and for the next eight years was extremely busy with the care of five children and a husband who was often traveling on professional nuclear work and as a Regional Representative to South America in his Church calling.  In April of 1977, he was called to the First Quorum of Seventy and they moved to Salt Lake and a year later were sent to Mexico City for three years to supervise the Church in Mexico and Central America.

In 1981, Jeanene resumed researching at the Salt Lake Genealogical Library and opened up New England and British lines.  Rich was called to head the church genealogical work and was instrumental, through the Lord’s inspiration, to computerize the department and the floodgates of information literally opened and other records began pouring in as microfilming expanded worldwide.  People began writing Jeanene, whose name was listed as a contributor on approximately 50 lines, and more information poured in as researchers began compiling public histories.

From these early beginnings much research has been done on Kenneth's family and many names have been sent to the temple.  Kathy Frost, daughter of Wayne and Ann, is data entering thousands of names from the Talbott book that was found in Baltimore.  Linda Mickle, daughter of Richard and Jeanene, is also data entering thousands of names from a recently published book on the Sallee family.  Family information has been contributed on a Bandy family book recently republished that will also be data entered.  Thus, from small beginnings, many thousands of Mary's and Kenneth's ancestors have received the temple ordinances with the promise of many, many more.  Computer disks have been provided to all of the Scott sons so that each family now has a complete record of all that has been done."

[Since this was written in 1995, family members have continued to do family history research and submit names for temple ordinances.  A highlight of our reunion last summer in Nauvoo was the opportunity to do baptisms and sealings in the Nauvoo temple, including the sealing of Grandpa Kenneth’s brother, Roland, to their parents, Elzumer and Carrie Scott.]

On Jan. 28, 1962, while director of the stake family history center, Kenneth gave a talk about the importance of family history and temple work.  In his notes he wrote:

“It is a privilege to say a few words about Genealogy...Research for records of ancestors takes lots of time and patience.  Do you know anything really worthwhile that doesn’t?

...A member of [the] ward [said], “Whenever I see you I feel I should start doing my Genealogy research.]

Kenneth's notes for his 1962 talk on family history and temple work

...The research work is only the preliminary to the main work–getting actual facts to identify our ancestors so the all important temple ordinances can be performed for them.

...Like all work in the Church [it’s] not necessary to wait until we go to our eternal reward to enjoy the rewards for living in accordance with Scriptures and Commandments.

[I have a] strong testimony of the validity of this restored gospel and re-established church....Pray we may live more completely in accordance with [the] Gospel.”

We are fortunate to have the examples of Kenneth, Mary, Jeanene, and others who worked for decades--before computers and the Internet--to find ancestors and relatives and see that their temple ordinances were completed.  Let us follow their examples, carving out time in our busy lives to remember and seek out those who have gone before who do not yet enjoy the blessings of the gospel and eternal covenants.  This is one of the best ways we can express our gratitude to Kenneth and Mary--and to Heavenly Father and the Savior, who through His infinite Atonement made these blessings available to all.