Scott, Thomas

Thomas Elmo Scott, 91, died Sunday, Jan. 30, 2005, at Eastern New Mexico Medical Center in Roswell.

He was born on Oct. 7, 1913, near Lafayette, Chamber County, Ala. At the age of 3, he moved with his family to Amber, Okla., where he attended school. His family moved again to a farm near Bovina, and at 15 he graduated high school as valedictorian. He received a scholarship to West Texas State University and enrolled there in 1929. He went there for two years, but because of the Depression, he didn’t graduate until 1935. For a period of 5 1/2 years he taught school in West Texas. On Aug. 14, 1941, he volunteered for service in World War II. He saw service in the European Theatre of Operations in the 12th Field Army Hospital unit. He was in five campaigns: Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes, and Germany for two years. During his wartime service, he met Lt. Gladys Detwiler, an Army nurse whom he married on Nov. 2, 1945. They moved to Los Angeles where he worked as a chemist. In October of 1946, they moved to Cactus, Texas, where he also worked as a chemist. In 1949, they purchased a farm near Portales. He was a member of Central Christian Church and had been a deacon, elder, and Sunday school teacher.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Edna Scott; and a brother, Harry Scott.

Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Jane Batson (and husband, Jack) of Roswell; and two grandchildren, Shannon Batson, of Portales and John Batson (Karen) of Temple, Texas.

Dean Overton, Kenneth Broad and Allen Conner will officiate the services.

Burial will be at Santa Fe National Cemetery at 10:30 a.m. Thursday.

Pallbearers are Walter “Cotton” Clark, Darrel Stroud, Charles Good, Corte Prude, Jay Ball and Sam Rigsby.

Memorial contributions may be made to the New Mexico Boys Ranch, P O Box 5000, Boys Ranch, NM 87002-5000.

Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.