Howard Scott

The Scott Clan waves a loving farewell to their beloved Howard Scott. He was the oldest of the Scott siblings and was affectionately known to his many friends as “The Mayor of Rabbit Valley.” A loving, hard-working husband and father, he was also a kind, caring, and generous brother, as well as a fun-loving, tall-tale-telling, warm-hearted uncle that meant so very much to all of us. He lived a long, happy, productive, and generous life, endearing himself to many folks. Indeed, if anyone could smile as they left this world, it would be Howard Scott. Best of all, he left this world having lived his life for Jesus and was fully ready to meet the Lord in the air when the Last Trump sounds!
Howard Scott entered this life on June 12, 1927, and was welcomed into a loving but impoverished sharecropping family in the remote stretches of Birchwood, not far from the Tennessee River. He was the firstborn son of Frank Scott and Cora Lee Jenkins Scott. He has often said, “We were so poor, we didn’t even know there was a Depression goin’ on!”
In 1944, Howard was blessed with a job at the enamel plant in Cleveland. When he brought home his first real paycheck of $11.88, his mother had trouble spending all this vast new wealth. It was their first tenuous step up from the harsh poverty to which they had long been accustomed.
As you might imagine, he was what some would call “a character.” It seemed he had a story, scripture, song, or quip for just about every conceivable situation. His typical response when asked how he was doing was, “Well, considering’ the model and the mileage, I’m doing toler’bly well.”
He was a hard-working, east Tennessee farmer, a diligent school bus driver for 38 years, an outstanding Sunday School teacher, and highly-skilled electrician all wrapped up in one smiling package. Howard took such pride in his work as an electrician that he achieved the job of State Electrical Inspector. In later years, he served as a “professor” at Cleveland State Community College, teaching a well-liked vocational course on electrical wiring.
Howard lived simply, and he was very generous with what he had. If you needed help, he would very often be the first to lend a dollar or a helping hand. He never once charged interest on a loan. If you wanted to pay him interest, fine; but he never required it. In fact, he often forgot that a person even owed him money until a check in the mail reminded him.
Something wonderful things will be missed. For instance, our ‘possum hunting trips. No more will Howard and the Scott boys walk Tennessee’s nighttime ridges and hollers, hearing the hound dogs sounding in the distance.
And we’ll also miss the great times the Scott family had over the last 50 years hauling hay on Howard’s Rabbit Valley farm west of Cleveland. That hasn’t happened for a good many years now…and will never happen again this side of eternity. But, oh, the times we had as the family worked together, Yes, we’ll miss ol’ Howard. But the family, instead of mourning that these things are no more, chooses instead to give thanks to the Lord of Glory that, in His wisdom and goodness, He did allow us the great privilege of enjoying such beautiful moments before they were gone. Oh, what wonders our eyes have beheld and our ears have heard! It was the story of God’s grace and goodness to our family, from generation to generation…and none told or lived the story any better than Howard Scott.
Howard is preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Cora Scott, his beloved wife, Clara Belle Officer Scott, and his youngest brother, Pete Scott.
Howard leaves behind his faithful and gifted son, DeWayne, a thoughtful and caring daughter-in-law, Rhonda, and a beloved, sweet daughter, Karen; also his remaining brothers, John and James Eddie (and their respective wives, Betty and Dianna), his sister, Mary Scott Dailey (and her husband, Jack), his sister-in-law, Kathy Scott, and a number of nieces and nephews that loved him dearly.
Visitation will be Friday evening January 9, 2014 from 5:00pm till 7:00pm, at Companion Funeral Home, with the service at 7:00pm. Interment will be Saturday January 10, 2014 at 2:00 pm, at Moores Chapel Cemetery.
You are invited to share a personal memory of Howard or your condolences with his family at his online memorial located at www.companionfunerals.com. Companion Funeral and Cremation Service and the Cody family are honored to assist the Scott family with these arrangements.


Visitation Details
5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Friday January 9, 2015
Companion Funeral Home
2415 Georgetown RD NW
Cleveland, TN 37311

Interment
Saturday January 10, 2014

Celebration of Life Service Details
7:00 PM
Friday January 9, 2015
Companion Funeral Home
2415 Georgetown RD NW
Cleveland, TN 37311

Moore's Chapel Cemetery
2:00PM