Gertrude M. Scott

Gertrude (Trudy) Marie, Smith, Scott, born August 14, 1928 in Mt. Ephraim, New Jersey died 4:30 a.m. August 20, 2013 at age 85. Trudy was the daughter of William S. (Kochersperger) Smith and Gertrude M. (Farrell) Smith of Lansdowne, Pennsylvania.

Trudy was preceded in death by her daughter, Trudy M. Bradley of Estacada, Oregon. Trudy is survived by her husband Harlan G. Scott, granddaughter Heather M. Archer, Heather’s husband Tony, great grandson Anthony H. Archer, son Jesse G. Scott of Thousand Palms, California, son Lee H. Scott of Gresham, Oregon, and Son in Law, Dan Bradley of Estacada, Oregon. She is also survived by grandsons, Kevin and Ryan Gregory. Her brother William C. Smith of Columbia PA and several nieces and nephews.

Trudy attended grade and highschool in Lansdowne, PA. She was a member of the Field Hockey team and earned a school letter for her participation in that sport. Trudy also studied acrobatic dancing, tap dancing, and was a member of the school choir. She was a member of the Saint John’s, The Evangelist, Episcopal Church of Lansdowne. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s, active in its youth programs, and a member of the junior choir.

Her grand father, John Farrell, lived in New York City. During a visit there, Trudy showed grandpa how well she could tap and acrobatic dance. Grandpa had to check a ship at one of the docks and on a whim took Trudy with him. Her grand father was the chief electrician of a company which did maintenance on ships in the harbor. Grandpa was a well known figure along the docks and when his business was concluded he stopped at a favorite tavern. Ask who his little date was grandpa proudly told his friends about Trudy and then lifted her to the bar top, saying, “Show then how you can dance darling.” Trudy did the routine she had been taught and the men in the tavern clapped loudly and then began tossing coins on the bar for her. Collecting the largess grandpa had another beer and they returned to his apartment. A short time later as Trudy was counting the change she had been given her parents learned how she had acquired it. There were no more unattended trips to the water front with grandpa.

Christmas New Years week of 1945 her brother brought a fellow sailor home with him. They were stationed at Beaufort, South Caroling Naval Air Station and had been given a ten day Christmas leave. Unbeknown to each this meeting would culminate in marriage June 21, 1947 at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Lansdowne, PA.

All during her years in high school Trudy volunteered as a Candy Striper at the Presbyterian Hospital in Philadelphia. Upon graduating from high school she obtained employment with MA BELL. Trudy worked as a telephone operator in the Lansdowne office. A job she truly enjoyed. At that time switch board operators literally connected callers to one another, collected the fees from pay phones, and answered information requests. They heard a different tone for quarters, dimes, and nickels, by the sounds heard they could tell if the correct payment was being made.

May 20, 1948 Trudy gave birth to a baby girl whom she named Trudy. The joy of her and her husband’s life.

October 1949 the family moved from Lansdowne to her husband’s home, Portland, Oregon. This would be the first of several trips across the United States and it also be the first time she drove a car pulling a trailer.

In Portland she made new friends and was assimilated into her in-law’s family and circle of friends. To both she and her husband’s amusement many in Portland, because of her eastern accent, thought she was an English war bride.

April 1, 1952 her husband was recalled to active duty with the 403rd Troop Carrier Wing of the U.S. Air Force. This brought new challenges to the little family. Primarily because of her husband’s many absences as a member of a flight crew. This new life had its moments, especially when her husband was transferred to Smyrna AFB, Tennessee. Never having lived in the south Trudy found she had an accent problem. She had great difficulty understanding the locals and the locals had just as much trouble understanding Trudy. She talked to fast and they along with their accent talked too slow. Her husband, having been raised in part by grand parents, in southern Missouri, had no problems and acted as interpreter. Eighteen months after recall her husband was released from active duty and the family returned to Portland.

Trudy now became active in the First Christian Church. Trudy taught in the Sunday school and later full time at the church sponsored children’s day care center for working mothers. She loved this job and was in turn loved by the children with whom she worked.

Loving children Trudy contacted Boy’s and Girl’s Aid Society and inquired about child adoption. This led to she and her husband adopting two brothers whom they named Jesse George and Lee Harlan July 10, 1959.

In succeeding years Trudy worked as a telephone operator for Meier & Frank and the Federal Government.

In her 40's she became a member of the Ladies Oriental Shrine and the Nile both organizations are affiliates of the Shrine of North America. As a member of the Nile she became active with the Nile dancers under the direction of Connie Worth. This group attended the Nile’s national convention held in New Orleans and won their national dance competition. She was also president of the Nile club in Woodburn, Oregon. In this position she directed one of the most successful fund raising style shows sponsored by the club. Later she became more active in the Ladies Oriental Shrine and became the High Priestess of Alzarah Court. Trudy traveled extensively visiting the LOS clubs in the state.

Trudy and her husband celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary June 21, 1997 by renewing their wedding vows at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Woodburn, OR. Three of her bride’s maids made the trip from their homes on the east coast to attend, making this celebration a truly memorable occasion.

One of her last and most memorable event was the flight to Berlin, Maryland to have a reunion with her bride’s maids. All four were still living, all four were grade and high school class mates, and all four were present. They enjoyed a week of chatter and reminiscing along with good food and drink. At the end of the week they parted teary eyed for their respective homes.

Trudy was found to need a new aorta. During the operation for this it was discovered she also needed two by passes as well. The operation was a success but her daughter noticed her mental awareness and acuity was slowly deteriorating as the months went by. In 2009 she was diagnosed as having some form of dementia, most likely Alzheimer’s. Her condition continued to deteriorate and it became necessary to place her in a memory care facility in February of 2013.

While there her condition worsened and on August 20, 2013 she joined her daughter in heaven.