Nick Scott Memorial

Today my wife and I along with my parents drove to Oklahoma City to attend Nick Scott's memorial service.  I was asked to read the obituary. I was honored to be able to do so.

Nicolas Neal Scott (born Nicolas Aweyo), aged 23, of Oklahoma City died October 1, 2014 in Oklahoma City of homicide.

He was born June 23, 1991 near Homa Bay, Kenya. His mother died in childbirth and he was adopted by Neal and Tillie Scott two weeks later. His early childhood was spent in Morogoro, Tanzania where his parents were missionaries. Then the family returned to the United States, residing in Texas, Tennessee, and New Mexico before settling near Hodgen, Oklahoma'

Nick was home schooled for his first 6 years and then completed seventh and eighth grades in Hodgen, Oklahoma. He attended high school in Heavener, Oklahoma and was active in football and basketball. After high school he worked at a series of odd jobs but ran into difficulties when his citizenship papers were misplaced. Repeated attempts at replacing them were lost in red tape and his frequent moves.

He spent most of his adult life in Oklahoma but was homeless for the last several years. Basketball remained a passion throughout his life. Nick was a quiet young man until you got to know him well. Then a sense of humor and deep compassion came through that endeared him to his friends.

I first met Nick as an eight year old boy named Nicky. He was a quiet boy who couldn't sit still. Over the next few years I got to know him in my Sabbath School Class and in Pathfinders. By the time he was twelve he was almost as tall as I was.

Nick loved Pathfinder camping trips. We always knew to take extra food when Nick was along, especially an extra container of sour cream.

Nick was scheduled to go to the Faith on Fire Camporee in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Over 33,000 Pathfinders from over 100 countries attended. Shortly before the Camporee he injured his foot and was afraid that he would miss out, but he was able to go with a special boot. He had a great time at the Camporee and never complained even though we had to do lots of walking, (our campsite was almost a mile from the main events hangars), on his sore foot. I'm very glad that he was able to be a part of the Faith on Fire Camporee.

Nick is survived by his father, Neal Scott and wife, Lucy of Harrah, Oklahoma, two brothers, Steve and wife Vivian of Illinois and Tom and wife Jo Ann of Wisconsin, a sister, Marci, of California, and nieces and nephews. His mother, Tillie, preceded him in death in 2011.

Evelyn

My friend Evelyn passed away today. She had been ill for a very long time. I know that she can say, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith". After such a long battle, she is now sleeping in Jesus waiting for his second coming and resurrection.

Although it is hard to lose a friend, I am comforted by the words found in I Thessalonians 4: 13-18, "I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words".

For quite awhile, Evelyn has been in a local nursing home.  When I would visit her, she would always introduce me to anyone who might be there by saying, "this is Richard, he was the best man at my wedding". When Evelyn married my friend, Carney Williams, in 2005; Carney asked me to be his best man.  I was honored to be a part of the special occasion.  I was so happy the two people who were so sweet and loving were able to find each other.  Both of them had experienced sadness, and it was great to see them able to be happy again.

I was so glad that I was able to see Evelyn in the nursing home last week.  I had spent several weeks running a fever while fighting a serious virus so I hadn't been by to see her.  When I stopped by to see her I found out that she had been in the hospital the previous weekend, but she was doing better.  She looked better than I had seen her for some time.  I was surprised when I found out yesterday that she was back in the hospital. When we went to see her, she wasn't aware that we were there.  I'm thankful that Evelyn is no longer suffering and is now resting peacefully asleep in Jesus.  I'm looking forward to a time when I will see Evelyn again, a time when God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.

Evelyn's obituary:

Evelyn Williams

BORN: January 9, 1923
DIED: March 3, 2013
LOCATION: Mena, Arkansas

 Evelyn Williams, 90, of Mena, beloved wife of Carnie B. Williams, passed away peacefully on March 3, 2013.

She is survived by her husband, children Sondra Nation of Cherry Hill, Ron Watson and wife Tracy of Corsicana, Texas, Ric Watson and wife Dana of Mayfield, Kentucky, step-daughters Marie Booth and husband John of Grand Prairie, Texas, and Caroline Cheek of Mansfield, Texas, granddaughter Patty Jackson of Cherry Hill, 14 other grandchildren spread across the country and abroad, 24 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren; nieces, nephews, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law and their extended families. She was preceded in death by son James Reid and daughter Jackie Nation.

 She was born Evelyn Louise Vaughan in Hugo, Oklahoma, and grew up in Paris, Texas. A long-time resident of Dallas, she moved to Mena after being widowed. She found love again when she met Carnie Williams. They have been devoted to each other, could be seen always holding hands, and had words of kindness for everyone they met. Carnie will miss her greatly. We all will miss the smile of this lovely little lady – our mother, grandmother and friend. 

She was a member of the Mena Seventh Day Adventist Church.

Memorial services will be Sunday, March 9, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at the Mena Seventh Day Adventist Church with Pastor Daniel Kaffenberger officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of the Beasley-Wood Funeral Home.