LeRoy Scott passed away on Friday, Oct. 2, 2015, at his home in Holbrook. A public visitation will be held from 6 to 8 o’clock tonight (Oct. 9) at Owens Livingston Mortuary, located at 409 N. First Ave. in Holbrook. A Going Home Service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10, at the First Southern Baptist Church, located at 360 N. First Ave. in Holbrook.
He was born Dec. 27, 1938, in Morton, Miss., to the late Jack and Catherine Griffin Scott. He was the second of five children. He was baptized and became a member of the St. John Baptist Church of Morton at a young age.
LeRoy earned his high school diploma from Morton Vocational High School in 1959. During high school, he played football, basketball, baseball and ran track, and excelled in all sports. He was offered scholarships in football from Alcorn and Jackson State.
In August 1959, LeRoy came to Holbrook with Jim and Bobbie Nell Davis, who were visiting family. His cousin, Ray Davis, cancelled his trip back to Mississippi and LeRoy remained in McNary with $15, unable to return back home to Mississippi. Immediately, he began working. He worked various jobs from 1959 to 1965, including at Southwest Lumber Mill in McNary, Ford Motors (owner P.F. Thomas) and Reed Mullen Ford (manager Virgil Stuart), as a union construction worker (highway construction jobs across Arizona and in New Mexico), and at Holbrook Parts House located on Navajo Blvd. (supervisor Larry Baldwin).
In 1965, he began working for Arizona Public Service Co. as a coal handler and worked his way up to operator and then to shift supervisor. He excelled at his job and received numerous awards. He retired from APS after 34 years of dedicated service. He really enjoyed his job and his co-workers, some of whom became lifelong friends.
Huey Guy introduced LeRoy to the love of his life, Patricia Ann Blake, in the summer of 1959. They were later joined in marriage at the old St. John Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Lewis Colley in August 1960. Born to their union were two daughters, Beverly Kay and April Nicole Scott.
LeRoy was a gardener, and a sports and outdoor enthusiast. He enjoyed camping and fishing with friends and family. A highlight of each year was the annual game hunting trip for elk and deer with his friends and co-workers. LeRoy participated on several Holbrook athletic teams, including the Our Lady of Guadalupe softball team, the Cholla bowling team, in the Holbrook Basketball league and golfing at Hidden Cove Golf Course. You could always find LeRoy sitting in his favorite chair watching ESPN.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Catherine Scott; his brothers, Billy Lee Scott (Velma), Otis Scott and Bobby Scott, and nephew, Billy Mac Scott, all of Las Vegas, Nev.; and two brothers-in-law, Wendell Phillip Blake and Wilbert Blake.
He leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Patricia Scott; his daughters, Beverly and April Scott; his “Hero”, London Josiah Scott-Hawkins (grandson); his last living sibling, Annie Faye Ferrell of Las Vegas; his sisters-in-law, Teresa Blake of San Antonio, Texas, Pamela Blake of Phoenix, Marva Sumbry (Michael) of Albuquerque, N.M., Mary Holly (Lee) of Holbrook and Linda Renfro (Porter) of Orange, Texas; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
–Phillipians 4:19, KJV
