Dorothy Dean "Scottie" Vigil

Scottie was born from immigrant parents, John and Mary Scott. Seven family members braved the trek from Scotland to the United States, including her 2 year old brother, Jack, in June of 1921, on the ship Columbia. Arriving with twenty dollars in their pocket, the family’s journey took them to West Virginia to work in the coal mines. They moved to Dawson, New Mexico where her brother, Alexander Crookston Scott, and sister, Irene Elizabeth Bond Scott, were born. From there the family moved to the coal mines in Sugarite, New Mexico; the birthplace of a mischievous, outspoken, loving and caring individual with determination and compassion to help those less fortunate, Dorothy Scott. She adopted the nickname of Scottie from her father’s family name and the origin country of Scotland. Scottie was passionate about her heritage and spent over 10 years gathering information about her ancestry, going back to the year of 1660.

Scottie adored both of her brothers and found it easy to sweet talk Alex into buying her anything she wanted. He always insisted she was spoiled, and she was. She and her mother visited New York to see Alex’s military deployment overseas. One of her best memories was when they celebrated Alex’s return and the war was finally over. Upon his return, Scottie told Alex she wanted a new bike for Christmas. He responded that she was already too spoiled. But, on Christmas morning, to her surprise, it was there. Christmas was her favorite holiday, with the tree usually up before Thanksgiving. Her brother, Jack, was not short of spoiling her either. She knew exactly how to get whatever she wanted from both of them. They always had her back, never told on her while sometimes biting their tongues. Growing up, a friend of the family she called Uncle Sam, influenced her life. He was from Wales and was always at the house. She considered Sam a father figure. At one point in time he bought her a piano. A piano! Once again proving “she was well loved,” and yes, spoiled. With gratitude she visited his grave throughout her life. She of course loved her sister, Irene, although there were many fights with sisterly love along the way. Scottie always seemed to be the victor by default, being the youngest. Irene never won. Scottie enjoyed her life with her siblings and held them close to her heart. They all preceded her in death.

She was creative and expressed an interest in writing and the theatre. In the coal camps, Scottie was the only little girl with a fur coat. She was given the part as the rich girl in the 3rd grade school play of ‘The Poor Little Rich Girl,’ and she, of course, owned the part. The family moved from Sugarite to several mining towns in New Mexico including Raton, Van Houten, Koehler, then traveled to Odessa, TX, finally settling in Las Vegas, New Mexico. During her attendance at Las Vegas High School, Scottie wrote a short story. Her story was adapted into a play, and was broadcast on the local radio station, a proud accomplishment.

It was at Las Vegas High School where Scottie met the love of her life. Davis Vigil asked her to attend a Boy Scout party and it was there she had her first kiss. Scottie fell in love with Valentine’s Day because Davis would pick out the sweetest and loving cards. Getting his class ring sent her over the moon. In March of 1950, Scottie married Davis. They remained together for over 74 years. After leaving New Mexico and moving to Colorado they raised their family of three children; Barbara of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, Janet of Thornton, Colorado and their son David who passed away in 2009.

Scottie found an interest in an up and coming retail store, Kmart. It was a new concept in retail sales. She became the Regional Manager for the Millinery Department of eight stores and enjoyed working with the company until her retirement.

Scottie and Davis loved to entertain and have family and friends surrounding them. She and Davis loved to dance the jitterbug, swing and slow dance. Their song was Kansas City. She loved country western music with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Patsy Cline and Kenny Rogers topping her list. She enjoyed listening to Eddie Arnold, Frank Sinatra, The Glenn Miller Band and The Mills Brothers. Somewhere along the line she insisted her daughters listen to Mozart, Bach and Tchaikovsky and stressed the need to watch ballets. Quite the switch from western music! Dick Clark did not have those on any play list! Her favorite movies were “Gone with the Wind” and “Imitation of Life.” She could watch Lonesome Dove, over and over. Westerns were her movie of choice! John Wayne was always a hit.

Scottie was a Brownie/Girl Scout leader and was dedicated to helping young girls develop confidence. She spent hours at the Salvation Army stores looking for and purchasing used uniforms, washing them and providing them to any girl that could not afford them. She never wanted the girls to feel like they were not an equal, or not good enough to participate. She made sure the Girl Scout cookie drives were off the chart. Her advice; you are already wonderful, but always be yourself, don’t change for anyone, you can do anything any other person has done in any field, just be you. She also spent time volunteering at the orphanage where she could help take care of the babies and young toddlers. She would gather clothes and take them along with the wooden blocks Davis made for her to take to the children to play with.

Her mother was a seamstress and taught her how to sew. She quilted, made and sold Barbie clothes, made clothes for herself and her daughters from time to time. Scottie enjoyed crocheting large projects or just doilies with or without a pattern. And if there was an embroidery or cross stitch project that looked challenging she would take it on. She would read a good novel, work on word puzzles or do a simple painting project. Flower arranging was a passion and she was very good at it. Scottie wasn’t much of a gardener, never liked the outdoors, but enjoyed a beautiful flower garden as long as someone else took care of it for her! Generally it was Davis. Her favorites were yellow roses and the red Roses of Sharon. Her house was always full of house plants. She was always excited when she received a bouquet of flowers. Her eyes lit up!

She loved her collection of elephants representing the love of family and how they take care of each other. Keeping her family together and having them around was very important to her. The elephants always had to be pointed to the front door for good luck. Like all good things, she accumulated many elephants once she started the collection. Everywhere you turned someone in the family bought her a new elephant or there was the Hobby Lobby trip. It began to be an elephant safari gone wild.

Scottie was a longtime fan of the Kansas City Chiefs. She enjoyed watching Mahomes play and cheered on the team. However, if the Broncos beat the Chiefs, a rare occurrence, she would not watch for a couple of games, thinking that was definitely going to make the Chiefs change their game plan!

Family left to cherish her memory is her husband, Davis; daughters and sons-in-law, Barbara Vigil-Cambron and husband Jim, Jan Mathews and husband Jack, and David’s wife (remarried) Kathy Faust. Additionally, six grandchildren and their spouses, Adam Mathews and wife Desiree, Adrian Mathews and wife Suzy, Stacie Garcia and husband Manuelito, Monique Casey and husband Kevin, Elise Cayayan and husband Leo, Jesse Vigil-Cambron and wife Laura; 16 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren. She is survived by many nieces and nephews and extended generations of the family tree. Prayers are often said for the family children lost too soon but always remembered.

Services to be held at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Parish, 11385 Grant Drive, Northglenn, CO 80233.

Public Viewing and Visitation will take place 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at Immaculate Heart of Mary.

In honor, a Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be said 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at Immaculate Heart of Mary.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Luncheon will take place at Immaculate Heart of Mary, 12:30 p.m.-2:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 25, 2024.

Interment services will be 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at Olinger Highland Cemetery. 10201 Grant Street, Thornton, CO 80229.

Pallbearers: Adam Mathews, Adrian Mathews, Jesse Vigil-Cambron, Kevin Casey, Manuelito Garcia, Leo

Cayayan, Marcus Garcia, Isaac Garcia.