Roll Call Tribute

Whelchel Grace Funeral Home obituary
16560 US Hwy 160
Forsyth, MO 65653
P. O. Box 425
Tel: 1-417-546-4757
info@whelchelgracefuneralhome.com

Richard Echols Scott
NOVEMBER 2, 1928 ~ SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 (AGE 90)

Richard “Dick” Echols Scott was born at home to parents Seth Grant Scott and Winnifred Echols Scott, on November 2, 1929. His immediate family included two sisters, Hortense Sullivan Vogel and Norine Farber, and three brothers, Harold, Doug and Dan.

Dick excelled at all sports in primary school. He attended Texas A&M University through the ROTC. At A&M, Dick was a Golden Gloves Boxer and an honorable mention All-American football player. After college, he served in the Air Force in Germany as a communications specialist and as part of the European Air Force football team.

In Dick’s early career, he coached football at Brownsboro, Kaufman and LaPorte Texas. In 2015 Dick was inducted into the Kaufman High School Hall of Fame, Kaufman Texas. While coaching he acquired his Master’s degree, and later he studied law at SMU. Dick transitioned from coaching to selling exercise equipment to college athletic departments. In the late 1960’s, Dick started a new venture into construction, building “super slides” at amusement venues in Kansas City, Atlanta and Rockaway Beach. While in Rockaway Beach, he discovered the 580-acre Puchta family farm for sale on Lake Taneycomo. Dick gathered financial backing and purchased the farm with a vision to develop this land into a residential subdivision. Over the course of four decades, Dick developed multiple phases of Venice on the Lake, creating lakefront, lakeview and affordable housing opportunities.

Dick revived his athletic pursuits while in his late 60’s. At age 70, he traveled to Turku, Finland to represent the USA in the Senior Olympics, competing in the Decathlon, he finished ahead of the other USA athletes and placed 9th in the world.

Dick resided in Taney County for 50 years. Anyone met Dick knew how much he loved Jesus, and he shared the gospel with everyone he met. He served with the prison ministry. He erected and maintained the “Jesus is Lord” billboard in Rockaway Beach for as long as anyone can remember, as well as other Christian billboards, and he donated parcels of land for multiple Church sites. But mainly, he will be remembered for his generosity, his love of family, his benevolence, his stories, his prayer life, his passion for gardening, his infectious laugh and the joy he got from sharing the bounty with others.

Dick was proceeded in death by his parents and all his siblings, as well as his son, Robert “Bobby” Allen Kenney, and daughter, Julia Scott Tew. He is survived by his wife, Gail Scott, Rogers, AR and children, Paul Scott Kenney and wife Kathy, Ft. Worth, TX; Susie Cobb and husband Earl, Kissee Mills, MO; Kimberly Scott DeMarsh and husband Tom, Milwaukee, WI; daughter in law Darla Kenney, Euless, TX; Tracey Scott and wife Deb, Tampa, FL; Molly Scott McKenzie and Dustin Williams, Topeka, KS; Honey Scott Pickren and husband Rick, Ozark, MO; and son in law Brannon Tew, Forsyth, MO. Dick has sixteen grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren.

To honor Dick’s wishes he was laid to rest in a Family graveside memorial service on September 30th in the Scott Family Cemetery. Dick would have appreciated donations in lieu of flowers to the Bridge of Faith Community Church, 296 Lake Street, Rockaway Beach, MO 65740.

Donations may be made to:
Bridge of Faith Community Church
296 Lake Street, Rockaway Beach MO 65740