John F. Scott

John Franklin Scott, age 75, of East Peoria, formerly of Michigan, passed away on May 9, 2014, into the arms of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, after a courageous struggle with pancreatic cancer. John was born on March 31, 1939, in Detroit, MI, to Loren and Theodora (Gregory) Scott. He married Carol Ann Gaskill on June 18, 1966, in Quincy, IL. Surviving are his wife; his children: David (Kelley) Scott of Washington, IL; Rebekah (Rob) Patten of Rogers, AR; and Dr. Stephen (Melissa) Scott, of Doha, Qatar; his grandchildren: Jacob, Daniel, and Caleb Scott; Rachel (Scott) Musselman; Madeleine, Emily, Josephine, Victoria, and Isabelle Patten; and Audrey and Ava Scott. He is also survived by three siblings, all in Michigan: Theodora (Ron) Frayer; Martin (Sharon) Scott; and Shirley (Bernam) Fraley; and many nieces and nephews. His parents and an infant son, John F. Scott, preceded him in death. John graduated from Mt. Lebanon High School, Mt. Lebanon, PA. He had a BS in Chemistry from Southwest Missouri State, a BA and BTh from Baptist Bible College, both in Springfield, MO, and an MA and Ed. Specialist degrees from Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI. John served as a medical corpsman with the U.S. Navy and was attached to the U.S. Marines at Camp Pendleton, CA and later at Okinawa, Japan. One of his greatest joys was to spend time with his family and grandchildren, or to be helping others. He loved teaching. He attended Kairos Bible Fellowship and taught Sunday school in many Baptist churches over the past 50 years. He taught in the public school system in Taylor, MI, for 18 years, two years in Abingdon, IL, and 20 years with District 150 in Peoria, IL, retiring in 2004. He went back to teaching at Aletheia Christian School, Peoria, IL, in 2012. He regretfully said good-bye to his students in January of this year. John never knew a stranger and was always willing to lend a helping hand and a heaping dose of encouragement. He was a blessing to all those who knew him. He will be greatly missed. There will be a Memorial Service at 11:00 a.m. at Calvary Baptist Bible Church, 2200 W. Nebraska, Peoria, IL on July 25, 2014. Burial of ashes were at Indian Point Township Boydstun-Dawdy Cemetery, Abingdon, IL. Memorials may be made in John's memory to Methodist Hospice Services, Peoria, IL, who so wonderfully and lovingly cared for John so that he could remain at home during his illness, or to Aletheia Christian School, 7229 N. Knoxville, Peoria, IL. Cremation Rites have been entrusted to Affordable Funeral & Cremation Services of Central Illinois, where notes of condolences may be sent using www.peoriafuneral.com.