Roger Keith Scott died, January 18, 2018, after living a full and adventurous life. He was born in Carthage, Missouri on April 18, 1928 to Gladys Evelyn (Hyde) Scott and Roy Daniel Scott. When Roger was a year and a half old, there was an explosion of the Atlas Powder Company where Roger’s dad worked. His dad went through a window, made it home, and said we will not live in harm’s way and they left for California the next morning.
Everything his folks owned was tied on their car. It was a 1926 Star Coupster. His dad had rigged a platform behind the front seat for he and his brother, Wayne. California was their destination because they had an Aunt and Uncle—both Doctors—who had told Roger’s dad there were lots of jobs there.
The trip to California in 1929 was long and plagued with flat tires and engine problems. There were no paved roads. They lived in a rented house in Pittsburg, CA for a while until his folks bought a home in Enes Track. Wayne and Roger both graduated from Ambrose Grade School, and the Mt. Diablo High School in Concord, CA. During this time, they spent summers fishing and camping. Most of the camping was in Yosemite. World War II was underway. Both Wayne and Roger spent the summer working for Dow Chemical. Roger started working there when he was fifteen and only weighed 115 pounds. Wayne enlisted in the Marines when he was seventeen. Roger waited to be drafted. When the war came to an end, both Wayne and Roger attended the University of California, Berkley. Roger graduated with a degree in Mining Engineering and got a job upon graduation with the New Park Mining Company in Keetley, Utah near Park City. With cave-ins, low metal prices and such he resigned as the mine engineer with thoughts of getting and selling tropical fish. When he got back to California and his folk’s home, a draft notice was waiting for him. He lost his deferment when he quit the mine. The notice gave him just a few days to report to Ft. Ord, CA. The Korean War was underway. After two years and doing a couple of ‘Code of Silence’ missions, he was discharged and went to work for the Anaconda Mining Company in Butte, MT.
In Butte, he met and married Darien Gay Carkeet. They celebrated 61 years of marriage in October of They had three wonderful children and four wonderful grandchildren.
Roger had enough of Butte, Anaconda company and the strikes and with his family moved to California in 1959. They bought their first home in Davis, CA and Roger worked for the Bureau of Public Roads and the Federal Highway Administration until his retirement in 1990 when he retired as DivisionAdministrator for the state of Montana. His work took him around the U.S. where he made many friends and is still close to some. In addition to Davis, they owned homes in McLean, VA, Beaverton, OR and Helena, MT. He was a member of Kiwanis and volunteered at St. Peter’s Hospital for many years. Since moving out to Fox Ridge he made a round of new friends and life was good. He had a book published and has many of his oil paintings scattered far and wide.
He and Darien enjoyed many cruises and trips since his retirement. High on his ‘bucket list’ was to go to St. Petersburg, Russia and he was able to go and see it this past summer.
He is survived by his wife Darien, daughters Tammy (Roger) Reynolds, of Beaverton, OR; Melanie Scott of Ketchikan, AK and son Steven (Catherine) Scott of Helena MT; grandchildren Matthew Reynolds of Beaverton, OR and Stephanie Reynolds of Brooklyn, NY and Hailey and Cole Scott of Helena; brother Wayne Scott of Ft. Bragg, CA.; nieces Carol Skvorak of Seattle, WA.; Christine Thomas and Joyce Bray of Elk Grove, CA.; nephews Rand Scott of Ft. Bragg, CA.; Mike Skvorak and Garth Skvorak of Pittsburgh, PA.; Kevin Skvorak of Staten Island, NY and Donald Bray III of Sacramento, CA.
A Celebration of his life will be held on Thursday, January 24th, 11AM at St. Peter’s Episcopal Cathedral, 51 1 N. Park. Interment in St. Peter’s Memorial Garden will follow the service. A reception will be held immediately following, in the churches fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to your favorite charity or St. Peter’s Cathedral. Please visit below to offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Roger.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
Jim & CJ Murtha says
CJ and I am so sorry to hear of Rogers passing. Aside from being one of the founding fathers of our neighborhood, he was an intellectual and prolific writer and painter. We’ll greatly miss our spirited political discussions on Wednesday nights and his humorous rejoinders. His recounting of his military experiences was always interesting and entertaining. May he rest in peace. Our thoughts and prayers are with Roger, you and the family. God bless.
Duke and Janine Miller says
Our neighbor, our friend. We will miss him.
Our prayers for Darien and family.
Janine and Duke
Tim & Shirley Roberts says
Shirley and I will miss our “across the yard” neighbor, Roger. We will certainly miss his wealth of knowledge wrt our home owners association. In addition, his stories and insights about Korea, Montana, his youth, family, mining, hunting, Scotch, and our highways.
We thank Roger for his service to our great country as a ground combatant during the Korean War.
Roger had a wonderful sense of humor. His wit was quick, kind, and on point. He always disarmed you with his smile.
He was small in stature but a giant of a man who always took the time to help others and to share.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you Roger and with your family as you return to our Father.
Tim & Shirley
John and Gwynn Mundinger says
Dear Darien and family,
May we send our heartfelt sympathy. The community will miss Roger’s enthusiasm for his many pursuits and contributions. His friendliness made it easy to converse with him.
Your long marriage was an inspiration. What an array of memories for you.
You have our prayers.
John and Gwynn Mundinger
Marie M Brown says
Darien, I am so sorry to hear of Roger’s passing. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.
Marie Brown
Bill & Helen Dunbar says
Darien & Family. So sorry to hear of Roger’s passing. A very good man and great boss. We Pray for you both and your family. Bill & Helen
Steve and Linnea Armstrong says
Steve and Darien and the Scott Family:
We are so sorry to read about Roger’s passing. We enjoyed him so much, the little we got to spend with him. He was wonderful and according to his obit, had an interesting life! We miss all of you and wish you all the very best. We are up at the Flathead, and if you happen to be in the area, we hope you will look us up!
God bless you all, Linnea and Steve Armstrong