Gerald Finis "Jelly" SCOTT

Gerald
February 26, 1922 - August 12, 2012

Betty
November 21, 1923 - January 28, 2014

Married: December 1, 1945

Shreveport, LA - Gerald (Jelly to most) was born on February 26, 1922 in Tioga, Texas. His family was the center of his life and remained as such for all of his life. His Mother and Father (Mama and Papa Scott to most of us) were wonderful examples of love and they instilled this love in all of their ten children. So, Jelly was a loving son, brother, cousin, friend and later on uncle, husband, brother-in-law, father, great-uncle, grandfather and great-grandfather.
Jelly lived in many places during his childhood, but his family finally settled in Waldo, Arkansas. And it was in Waldo where he met the love of his life, Betty Lou Fincher and they both graduated from Waldo High School. Jelly was a hard worker early on in his life and this work ethic remained with him all of his life.
A turning point in Jelly’s life was when he joined the United States Army. Like so many others at that time he was determined to do his part to defend our country and he did so with great honor and humility. He was granted a Battlefield Commission and promoted to 2nd Lieutenant while serving with the 324th Engineer Battalion, 99th Infantry Division. Jelly actively served our country from July 1940 until October 1945 and during this time participated in one of the great, pivotal battles of World War II, the Battle of the Bulge. And, he was a proud albeit modest recipient of both the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart Medals. Later in his life he would find great pleasure in reuniting with his Army buddies and their families at the yearly reunions of the 99th Division.
Jelly married his sweetheart, Betty Lou Fincher, on December 1, 1945. He went about the business of work and became a salesman. His field was oilfield supply sales and he worked for Bethlehem Supply Co., Superior Iron Works and Supply Co. and finally ended his career as Southern Area Sales Manager for the Boviard Supply Company. His career took him from Magnolia, Arkansas to Houston and finally to Shreveport. In addition to his career in sales; Jelly served for many years on the Board of Directors of Peoples Bank, Magnolia, Arkansas.
Jelly had been athletic in his early life, but later in life he discovered the game of Golf. He had been a hunter and fisherman, but Golf was truly something very special to him. And, as with everything else that he did, he played the game very well. He played on many courses with his customers, great friends and with his family and he was proud to have played some of the great courses in the world: Pebble Beach in California and the historic courses in Scotland and England. But it was Riverbend in the Houston area and East Ridge in Shreveport that he loved the most.
Jelly’s faith was an integral part of his life and he lived his faith for all of his life. He had been a member of the Waldo First United Methodist Church, Westbury United Methodist Church in Houston and finally, Broadmoor United Methodist Church of Shreveport.
Jelly had always felt the call to serve and in his later years he joined the South Shreveport Lions Club. The Lions Club was very meaningful to him and its program for recycling eyeglasses provided much needed eyeglass lenses for hundreds of Shreveport residents and for people as far away as Ukraine. He also proudly served as a bell-ringer for the Salvation Army at Christmas time for many years. Additionally, he found great joy in mentoring young children by augmenting their reading skills at Arthur Circle Elementary School. There is no doubt that his kindly and sweet-natured manner also brought joy to the many youngsters he tutored over the years (and in his 80’s).
Jelly lived a happy and contented life and we shall always remember his kindness and love, his bright and shiny eyes and big, robust smile and laughter. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joshua Finis Scott and Maggie Lonnie Bryan Scott; brothers, Earl Scott and wife, Auda, Dean Scott and wife, Florene, Kenneth Scott and wife, Jean, Lloyd Scott and by brother-in-law, Harold H. Fincher; sisters, Edith Thompson and husband, John, Addie Norwood and husband, Lewis and by Margaret (Maggie B.) King and husband, Clifford (King). He is survived by wife, Betty Lou; sons, Richard and ex-wife, Elizabeth Pringle Lyne Scott, David and wife, Laura; sister, Mary Elizabeth (Libba) King; brother, John Penn (Penny) Scott and wife, Clayta; sister-in-law, Sue Ann Scott and by sister-in-law, Dorothy Jeanne (D. J.) Fincher; a host of very special nephews and nieces; grand and great-grand nephews and nieces; beloved grandchildren, Jennifer Cole and husband, Barry, Katie Lickliter and husband, Nick, Bryan and Cara Scott; great-grandchildren, Colton, Haley and William Lickliter and Bailey, Emily and Tinley Cole.
The family would like to extend our sincere appreciation to Dr. Prakash Manapragada and the nurses and staff of both Willis-Knighton Pierremont Hospital and Lifecare Hospital (Linwood Avenue); Dr. Roy Fleniken and the nurses and staff of the Northwest Louisiana War Veterans Home.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, August 18th in the Chapel at Broadmoor United Methodist Church, 3715 Youree Drive, Shreveport, Louisiana with Senior Pastor, Ken W. Irby, officiating. A reception will follow the service in the Fellowship Hall. Osborn Funeral Home, 3631 Southern Avenue, Shreveport, Louisiana (osbornfuneralhome.net) will be directing the service and should any flowers be sent, they may be delivered to the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate that memorials be made to the Northwest Louisiana War Veterans Home, 3130 Arthur Teague Parkway, Bossier City, Louisiana 71112 or to the charity or organization of their choice.

Contributed on 9/16/22 by debbraszymanski
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Record #: 1449243

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