Arthur A Scott

Art was born on August 28, 1928 (8-28-28) in Salt Lake City to Walter Scott and Caroline Sorenson Stain Scott. He was a lifelong resident of Salt Lake County. He grew up on his Grandmother Sorensen’s homestead at 1066 East 300 South. He attended Stewart School on the University of Utah campus and West High School, proactively taking electrical and radio classes during WWII, and graduating from the University of Utah with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Botany in 1949 at the age of 20. He later returned to the U taking classes in Accounting and Engineering. Art worked in Property Accounting at Utah Power & Light for 10 years. He then worked as an aeronautical engineer at Hercules Aerospace Company for 29 years where he was a supervisor in the Project Engineering Department.

Art often said his greatest accomplishment was having a family. He met his sweetheart, Nell Boekway of Riverdale, Utah, when he called Nell’s apartment to arrange a date with her roommate, but the roommate was not at home so Art talked to Nell on the phone instead. After a couple of calls, he asked Nell out on a date. Art and Nell married on March 18, 1955. They were married for over 40 years, until Nell passed away on September 3, 1995. They were a great team and a devoted couple. He supported Nell’s ambition to have her own career in a time when most women were encouraged to be housewives and be supporters of men. With Art’s support and encouragement, Nell had a 36 year career at United Airlines as an executive secretary.

Art was devoted to his wife and family. They raised four children together: Alan, Betty, Nan, and Robert. They loved to travel with the family. Through Nell’s employment at United Airlines, the family traveled the world by plane when it was not yet common to travel by air. They visited Greece, Finland, Denmark, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, France, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and many other places. They also enjoyed traveling with their camper trailer throughout the Rocky Mountain area, of which Yellowstone National Park was his favorite destination. They also had annual boating trips to Lake Powell and Flaming Gorge. Winter season was filled with snowmobiling to their cabin, Guardsman’s Pass, throughout the Uintas, and of course to Yellowstone. The family never stayed home when there was a three day weekend. In 1984 they purchased a second home in St. George, Utah, so they could meet up with Betty, who lived in California after getting married. Art frequently stated that his most memorable vacation was his 80th birthday trip to Sweden with Betty and her family.

Art is known for being honest and fair, and has instilled these values into all his children. Additionally, all his children have a love of the great outdoors from their dad. Alan acquired Art's thirst for learning and love of deep conversations. Betty was her dad’s favorite sports partner growing up, and still plays sports every day. Nan has her dad’s logical reasoning skills. And Rob got his dad’s and grandfather’s unbelievable mechanical ability. Art was vocal that his two daughters, Betty and Nan, should be treated equally to their male peers. When his daughter Nan expressed interest in becoming a stewardess, Art suggested she look into becoming a pilot instead. Betty became the first woman in the family to earn a college diploma, and both of his daughters became accountants. Art thought the world of his children, and his children’s spouses. He was very loving, proud and protective of all of them.

Art was also a beloved Gramps. Many of his grandkids went with him to the University of Utah football games, where he had season tickets into his 90s. He was a valuable resource to his grandkids when they wanted to renovate their homes, repair their cars, or borrow from his huge expanse of tools. He was a great asset to Jenessa when she bought her townhouse in 2017, showing her how to repair holes in the wall and other impressive repairs with his fancy tools. He also welcomed his grandson, Andrew, into his home to live with him for four years while Andrew saved to buy his first home. Andrew and his Gramps were very sweet and comical roommates watching Judge Judy and Forensic Files on a frequent, if not daily, basis.

Art designed and began construction of a cabin in Big Cottonwood Canyon the same year he and Nell got married. Generations of his family have cherished the cabin, spending countless weekends, holidays and special occasions there. The family enjoys meals on the deck he built for Nell, snowmobiling in the winter, or hiking in the summer. Tyson and Hannah were married at the cabin in September 2020 and Andrew and Shelly were married there in July 2022. Cody proposed to Sabrina in December 2020 at the cabin, hiking up in a snowstorm. This gives evidence of the sentiment and value the cabin holds for his grandchildren. All three events were held at “The Big Rock” directly above the cabin.

Art was also a devoted friend. His best friend was Jim King, whom he met on the first day of kindergarten in 1933. Art and Jim have been friends for 91 years. When they were 9 years old, Jim showed him how to play tennis at Victory Park. This tennis lesson left quite an impression. Art became an avid tennis player, teaching his daughter Betty to play tennis at Liberty Park when she was 10. Art played tennis every Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. with Ron Purser for over 20 years. He called this his “church” and was known by his friends as “The Ace”. He played tennis into his mid-80s, including participating at the Huntsman World Senior Games for 22 consecutive years. He had more success with mixed doubles than he did with singles or men’s doubles and won several medals including a gold medal with Barbara West. He loved watching the four grand slam tennis tournaments on TV every year. He joined his daughters, sons-in-law and grandkids for about 15 years at the BNP Paribas tennis tournament in Indian Wells California as a spectator, watching the professional tennis players in March every year.

Art and Jim have traveled throughout Utah over the years. In their 50s, Art, Jim, Jim’s brother Sam, and Ron Freking trekked for four days across the Grand Canyon, from the North Rim to the South Rim. Then the four of them flew back to the North Rim. A year later, Art and Jim hiked the 42-mile Teton Crest Trail for four days, from Teton Village to Jenny Lake. During another trip in 1986, Art, Jim, and Sam traveled to Point Barrow and Fairbanks in Alaska. They attended a salmon fry at a baseball game that started at 11:00 p.m., but because it was on the longest day of the year, the stadium never needed to turn its lights on. For Art and Jim’s 90th birthday celebration, in October 2018, Art’s daughters took them to the Toroweap Overlook, following a dirt road until they found the best view of the Grand Canyon.

Throughout his life, Art had a thirst to learn about science, nature and politics. He had an incredible memory and was an early adopter of technology including cameras, power tools, personal computers and cell phones. He knew an incredible amount about the flora and fauna of Utah.

In 1988 Art wanted to learn the software program Excel. After several inquiries about this course through the Granite Community Education Program, he was asked if he would learn it himself, and then be the instructor for the course. He purchased the manual, taught himself the program, and taught the course for three years. Nell and Nan attended the first semester, along with other students, and always sat on the front row.

Art and Nell would frequently review a dictionary and discuss the spelling of a word or structure of a sentence. He also loved cars! He would research cars by reading car magazines and visiting auto showrooms for months or years before purchasing a new car. He drove a Mercedes SLK sports car until he was 95 years old. He was also a professional photographer for the Utah National Guard for 5 1/2 years and the family’s photographer, snapping photos at every family gathering. He was a life-long learner.

During his retirement, Art had a busy social life full of traveling, tennis and going to the senior center. He enjoyed spending time with his girlfriend Ellie Erickson. He picked up Ellie each day at her house in his sports car, then the two would get lunch at the senior center and socialize with their friends. From there, they would return to Ellie’s house where they would watch TV and inevitably take a nap before driving to Art’s house to have dinner and watch lots of news. Art and Ellie also enjoyed going to family parties together and going for walks in the park to take pictures of and feed the wild foxes. He joined Nan and her family most Sundays for dinner and family time for 20 years.

Art had many friends at numerous senior centers, including his friends with whom he played pinochle with every Monday. He was active in the United Airlines Retirees Club, Snowmobile Club, Camera Club, and Anchors Club. He also founded the Hercules Retirees Club. He and Nell both participated in Toastmasters for many years where they strengthened their speaking skills, increased their confidence and made many friends. Art held many leadership positions including District 15 Governor in 1979 and 1980 for which he received the Distinguished District Award. District 15 was over Utah, southern Idaho, eastern Oregon, northern Nevada and western Wyoming. They traveled to many clubs and meetings, supporting hundreds of members in their journey of personal improvement.

Art lived a happy and healthy life, living independently in his home in Holladay until he was 95 years old. After being hospitalized in July 2023, he moved into Nan and Steve’s home in Cottonwood Heights where he received lots of love and attention. He maintained a strong quality of life, good nature, and sweet spirit throughout his life, and maintained a positive attitude and appreciation even when his health declined. He is already dearly missed.

Art is survived by his four loving children and their spouses: Alan Scott (Anne Meininger) of Bernalillo, NM, Betty Scott of Irvine, CA, Nancy Crandall (Steve) of Cottonwood Heights, UT, and Robert Scott (Tamy) of Grantsville, UT. Art is survived by eight grandchildren: Miranda Scott, Candice Bray, Tyson Park (Hannah Gordon), Tanner Crandall (Rachel), Jenessa Crandall, Cody Crandall (Sabrina), Andrew Scott-Busenbark (Shelly Potter), and Megan Scott-Busenbark. Art is survived by nine great-grandchildren: Russell, Draven, Gabriel, and Aurora Bray, Milo, Gracie, Nellie, Nash and Gus Crandall. He is survived by his nephews and nieces. He is also survived by his girlfriend, Ellie Erickson, and his best friend, Jim King (The Professor).

Art was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Nell, his half siblings Charles Hamilton Stain, Paul Leonard Stain and Ellen Stain Warner, and many childhood friends, including Sam King (Little Osc), Howard Brown (Sea Daddy), Winfield Angleman, and Rufus Tracy and tennis friend, Ron Purser.

Art’s family would like to thank his wonderful neighbors Bert and Colleen, and Kip, Dave and Doug who have watched out for and helped him as great neighbors do. We also want to thank the hospice staff at Aspen Ridge Home and Hospice, including Suz, Laura, Pete and Denise for their wonderful care and guidance over the past 7 months.

A viewing will be held at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park and Mortuary, 3401 Highland Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84106 on Thursday, August 22nd from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. and again on Friday, August 23rd from 10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. with funeral services to follow at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be at Wasatch Lawn.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Multiple Sclerosis Society, American Lung Association, Huntsman Cancer Institute, or plant a tree in Art’s memory.