Frederick Myers Scott III

Frederick (Fred) Myers Scott, III passed peacefully on Saturday, June 6, 2020 in Boynton Beach, Florida. He was born on October 18, 1936, to Frederick Myers Scott, Jr. and Louise Hooks Scott Conkling in High Point, NC. Fred achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and was very proud of it. He graduated from NC State with a B.S. in Metallurgical Engineering in 1959. Fred joined the US Air Force as an officer in 1959, and earned an M.S. in Logistics Management from Air University in 1967. Fred was an adventurous soul and travel was a large part of his younger years. His time in the Air Force included 2 years in Chiang Mai, Thailand with his young family, and 5 years at Andrews AFB and the Pentagon. Fred played a historic role in USAF programs surveilling America's adversaries' nuclear weapons development programs. On October 16, 1964, while he was Commander Detachment 415 (Chiang Mai, Thailand), his unit detected China's first nuclear bomb test, known as Project 596. Later in his career, he led Inspector General teams for the Air Force Technical Applications Center (AFTAC), which took him to more than 100 countries. In his travels, Fred developed a passion for cooking and made it a point to learn from a local chef the national dish of each country he visited. He was fond of saying, "We Scotts don't eat to live; we live to eat." Cooking and entertaining friends and family was a lifelong joy for him, and later, along with his wife, Arlene. Fred was faithfully and honorably discharged from the Air Force at the rank of Captain in 1970, joined the Air Force Reserve, and started a new career in financial services. In 1972, he made a bold decision that changed the course of his and his family's life, when they moved to Billings, Montana. While continuing his financial services career there, Fred became an avid and skilled outdoorsman, both in Montana and later on sportfishing trips around the world. Cabo San Lucas, in the early years of its billfishing heyday, became a favorite destination. He ensured that safe, responsible, and ethical sporting practices became a legacy that was passed to his two sons, and ultimately their children. Additionally, Fred's lifetime of travel - which included visiting all 50 US states - reinforced his natural curiosity and compassion for other people and cultures, another lesson which, by example, he passed along to his children and grandchildren. Fred was truly fortunate to get a second, 'bonus life', when he met Arlene Scott (nee Hartline), after he moved to Florida. Arlene was the love of his life for nearly 22 years, and together they enjoyed their friends, cooking, and dancing. Fred and Arlene were very active in the Seacrest Presbyterian Church, where Fred served as Head Deacon. Fred was also very proud of his five grandchildren and followed their progress closely, even if from afar. Fred is survived by his wife, Arlene Hartline Scott; his brother, Richard (and wife Sylvia), of Macon, GA, and their children Jeffrey and Todd; and his nephew Chuck Conkling, of Emerald Isle, NC. He also leaves two sons, Fred IV (and partner Laurie), of Sudbury, MA, and his children, Jessica and Fred V "Rick" (and wife Lauren); and Craig, of Castle Rock, CO, and his sons, Alex, Zach and Connor. A memorial service and celebration of life will be held on Sunday, June 28 at Seacrest Presbyterian Church in Delray Beach, Florida. Fred's ashes will be released into the Gulfstream as he requested. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Seacrest Presbyterian Church (memo: "Fred Scott Memorial Fund"), 2703 Seacrest Blvd, Delray Beach, FL 33444. God Bless America!