Vincent LeRoy Scott 1919 – 2017

He was born on Nov. 23, 1919, at his maternal grandparent’s home in Jameson, Mo., and was taken to the family home three weeks later in a horse-drawn bobsled to be with his other four siblings.

In 1924, the family moved to Gallatin, Mo., where Scotty received his early education in the public school and on the streets, playing football, participating in Boy Scouts, delivering handbills and newspapers, selling magazines, and working at an ice cream parlor and grocery/bakery store.

He entered the University of Missouri at Columbia in 1938, and graduated in February 1943 with a B.S. in chemical engineering. He joined the Dow Chemical Company that month in Freeport, Texas, and spent his entire 40-year professional career there, retiring August 31, 1983. During that time, he worked in many areas—research and development, production, and production planning and economic evaluation (caustic magnesium, magnesium oxide, aluminum chloride catalyst, styrene, glycol, EDC, and V1V2).

Civic service during those years included Chairman Freeport Planning Commission during consolidation with Velasco; two terms on Freeport City Council; Precinct 18 election judge; grand jury service; and Area Planning Commission member. After retirement he spent seven years as the Freeport representative and first President, Board of Directors, Brazosport Water Authority, leading the effort to organize an authorization election in each Brazosport city; select legal, engineering, construction, and bond representatives; and hire personnel to build and operate the original facility.

Scotty married Rebecca Anne Twombly on April 17, 1948, who worked hard to make him a Texan. He is survived by her and their four children: Naomi Scott and husband John Bonno of Houston; Evelyn Collard Karl and husband Gary Karl of Brazoria; Pauline Moffett Singleton and husband David Singleton of Vernon; and Morgan Scott and wife Julie Scott of Dallas.  Also surviving are eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Scotty became a Christian at the age of 10, and was ordained a deacon by the First Baptist Church, Freeport, after his marriage.  His service there included singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School, serving on budget, finance, and other committees, audio-visual director, church treasurer, and trustee.

His passions were Christ, family, church, researching genealogy, following the stock market, watching football, and most of all, eating chocolate. He kept up with current events, and wrote letters to the Houston Chronicle and the Brazosport Facts expressing his historical observations, and years of wisdom. Scotty kept a blog entitled “Depression Class” with short stories from his childhood during the Great Depression, which can be viewed at http://depressionera.net/.

He lived a full life, was greatly loved, and will be deeply missed.

In lieu of flowers, Scotty requested donations to the First Baptist Church of Freeport Building Fund; P.O. Box 3040, Freeport, Texas, 77542.