Thomas Lewis Scott

Arkansas at the age of 82 on June 28th, 2022. Tom was the son of Nelson and Mary Scott.

Tom is survived by his wife of 59 years Dikki Suzanne Scott, and his two children, Thomas

Michael Scott, and Julie Suzanne Scott Marks along with two grandchildren Jadyn Marks and

Aubrey Marks. He is also survived by his two siblings William Nelson Scott and Linda Scott Tarascio. He was preceded in death by his grandson Maxwell Cade Scott Marks.

Tom’s family will be holding a service on Saturday July 2nd at 1pm at Edwards Funeral Home.

Tom was born in Fort Smith Arkansas on July 9th, 1939 and was a graduate of Fort Smith High School. He then attended the University of Missouri - Rolla (Missouri School of Mines) where he was a member of both the R.O.T.C. and the Kappa Sigma fraternity. During his college years, he excelled at boxing and was an intramural welterweight champion. Following graduation with a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering, he married Dikki Smith and the couple moved to Fort Huachuca, Arizona where Lieutenant First Class Scott was stationed for two years.

Following military service Tom, Dikki, and newborn son Michael moved to Savannah, Georgia to work for Wesson Oil. By the late 1960s, Tom was employed by the A.E. Staley Manufacturing Company in Decatur, Illinois where he spent the majority of his career. Daughter Julie was born in Decatur. Tom was a project engineer and he excelled in this role. His projects were on time, under budget, and successful. He was a member of the American Oil Chemists Society (AOCS). While he spent most of his working career in Decatur, he also traveled to other states to coordinate projects in Tennessee, Texas, and Louisiana. Tom and his family were especially influenced during his two years of service in Lockport, Louisiana from 1973-1975. Tom loved the cajun culture on Bayou Lafourche and they kept friends with cajuns their entire lives, occasionally enjoying Mardi Gras trips to Lockport and Houma.

Tom was also civically engaged during his lifetime, in the 1970s, he was elected to the Decatur School Board. After his retirement to Arkansas in 1998, he served on a committee to establish improved water service and quality to Greenwood, Arkansas. Throughout his adult life, he enjoyed running, and was good at it. Tom was a knowledgeable Arkansas naturalist; he could identify many species of plants and animals. In retirement Tom was a gentleman rancher helping to manage a small herd of cattle at the Rocking G ranch in Milltown. Tom was an all-around outdoorsman. Besides being a lover of Arkansas wilderness, Tom enjoyed whiskey and music. He was a big fan of Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, and Ray Charles. His greatest love of all was his wife Dikki. He was tremendously ethical, completely honest and totally loyal to family and friends. He will be missed.