I was born Jan. 14, 1920 in the rural area of Huggins, to George and Oma (Ratterree) Scott. My father was a minister in the Free Will Baptist Church, and my mother was everything a ministers’ wife should be and a full time homemaker. When I was 5 years old, our family moved to Mountain Grove, where my parents became partners with one of my uncles in operating a grocery store in the north part of Mountain Grove called “Old Town.” I started to school the day I turned 6, had the primer class and first grade in the Mountain Grove school system, then our family then moved back to the rural areas, where I had the second through the eighth grades. There was a three year high school, Gravel Point, about six miles from us, and the school bus came by our house, so I graduated from that school in 1937, then from Mountain Grove High School in 1938. During those years, teacher training courses were taught for seniors in high school. This consisted of college level courses such as Principles and Techniques of Teaching, Organization and Management of Rural Schools and Elementary Psychology. At that time one could get a teacher’s certificate by following the prescribed course of study in high school, passing the State Teachers Exam, and getting 10 hours of college credits during the summers. I chose to take the required courses and I passed the State Teachers Exam, so I attended State Teachers College (now MSU) in Springfield, then taught two years at Blanchard, a rural school north of Norwood, and one year at Stubbs, a short distance north of Mountain Grove. On March 9th of 1941, I married Elden Gearing, of Mountain Grove, and was privileged to become a full-time homemaker. Our daughter, Mary Ellen, was born Jan. 27, 1942. The next year, we moved to Richmond, Calif. where Elden had the opportunity to work in the ship yards helping build Liberty ships. That lasted only a year, as he became ill with cancer, so we moved back to Mountain Grove, where he died six months later. There I was, a young widow with 2-year-old Mary Ellen. That was a period of life when I first began to know the real truth of Romans 8:28, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, and are called according to His purpose.” With the encouragement and help of my parents, I went back to college for spring, summer and August terms. While I was still a college student, I was hired to come to Cabool to teach the eighth grade, with plans to continue working toward a degree in Elementary Education at STC. In September 1945, just outside the eighth grade classroom, another teacher, Mary Lindsey, introduced me to her brother, Bob Lindsey, who had just returned home to Cabool from Army service in World War II. My main thought was, “How thankful his family must be to have him home safely from the war!” When February of 1946 rolled around, Bob called me to ask if I would like to go with him to the basketball tournament at Houston, and I said yes. That was the beginning step that led us to a special love for each other, and our marriage Jan. 12, 1947. I have been thankful to God that He permitted us to get together, and as my little 5-year-old Mary Ellen said, “I’m glad he married us.” God blessed our family with three more children. Roger Scott born Jan. 7, 1948, Rebecca Anne born March 2, 1949 and Martha Janice’ born May 2, 1957. When I was almost 12-years-old I accepted Jesus, the Son of God, into my life as Lord and Savior and was baptized by my father in a stream of water called Beaver Creek. It had been my aim to always seek and do God’s will and though I’ve missed the mark many times, His grace, mercy and forgiveness have led me back on track. I consider I’ve been very fortunate to have the privilege to be a homemaker and to be the helper suitable for Bob all these 64 plus years, at this writing March 22, 2011, to know his love for me, to experience the love we have for our children and the love they have for us. I count it a privilege also to try to be a servant of God through various activities of our local church. God has permitted us to have the pleasure of sharing our home and goods with strangers, friends, and family members. We have been blessed to see some of the majestic beauty in God’s creation by traveling in all 50 states and several foreign countries. We thank God that some strangers have become lifetime friends. Bob and I both became certified pilots when we were in our fifties and this mode of travel added new experiences in our lives. Mary Ellen, Roger and Becky were married and out of the “nest,” and flying made it easy to go see them. It was always a joy to have Martha fly with us. One specific flight I recall was when Martha and I flew to Naples, Florida by ourselves. Bob had taken our vacation trailer down there a few days before Thanksgiving and had it all set up in a trailer park awaiting our arrival the day before Thanksgiving. That was my first experience being “pilot in command” for a long trip but it all worked out fine and we enjoyed a pleasant Thanksgiving week. When Martha was a junior in high school, she and two of her close friends decided that they should take a flying trip to Naples as soon as school was out. Since Bob was too busy at work to go, I was the one to take them. This flight, too, was good and also the week in our vacation trailer with three teenagers!
At this stage in life, Bob and I are still walking “hand in hand” though at a slower gait, enjoying our four children’s love and devotion along with seven grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren and a 14th to come in August 2011! God has strengthened us through the loss of our first grandson, Lindsey “Tige” McCullough, who died in June 2010. Some things I’ve enjoyed through the years-walking, family get togethers, 4th of July celebrations, spelling bees, ciphering matches, walking, school days, Christmas programs, walking, church, flower gardening, having loving parents and grandparents, my brothers and sisters, sewing clothes for my children and grandchildren, cooking, walking, singing, traveling, snow sledding, my grandchildren, being close to my nieces and nephew and did I say walking?! Over Daisy’s life, she had eight grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren. Bob Lindsey preceded her in death on Dec. 7, 2012. Daisy was the last surviving child of George and Oma Scott. Daisy passed from this life on Dec. 19, 2020, just 26 days short of her 101st birthday. Written by Daisy in March of 2011. Private graveside services were held on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020 at the Cabool Cemetery with Pastor John Stone, II officiating. Interment was in the Cabool Cemetery under the direction of Elliott-Gentry-Carder Funeral Home of Cabool. Online condolences may be made at www.egcfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to Rock Garden Camp or to the Cabool Christian Church, c/o the funeral home.
