Delbert Edward Scott

Delbert Edward Scott, M.D.
1932-2013
Delbert Edward Scott passed away suddenly at Ironside, Oregon on June 26, 2013. Del was born on September 20, 1932 to Delbert S. Scott, a teacher and sports coach, and Naomi E. Coleman Scott, a teacher and homemaker. Because there was no hospital in the small town of Scapoose, Oregon where the family lived, Del and his younger brothers, Don and Fred, were all born in Portland. When Del was six years old, the family moved to Ontario, then to Burns, and finally to Corvallis where Del graduated from high school.
Del attended Oregon State University-go Beavers-and graduated from the University of Oregon Medical School (now Oregon Health Sciences University) in 1959. During medical school, Del met a young nurse, Alice, who became his wife in 1958. Alice always joked that she had to marry Del because every time she turned around, he was sitting in the green chair in the apartment she shared with three of her friends. Del wanted to make sure that no one else had a chance!
After Del finished medical school, he and Alice moved to Kansas City, Missouri for his internship. Their daughter Sarah was born during this time. Following completion of his internship, Del and Alice moved to Ontario where Del began a general medical practice. Their son Tim was born in Ontario. After several years in general practice, Del and Alice returned to Portland where Del began a residency in pathology. Two more children, Amy and Paul, were born there during his residency. When Del's father passed away in 1962, his mother Naomi joined the family in their tiny three bedroom house. Naomi lived with the family for many years.
After Del completed his residency, he agreed to join Miles Thomas and Helen Beeman at St. Alphonsus Hospital and off the family moved to Boise. Miles, Helen, and Del also provided pathology services to Holy Rosary Hospital in Ontario, Oregon. To save time, Miles flew a private plane back and forth between Boise and Ontario. As a result, Del too learned to fly and took Alice and their children on numerous interesting trips around the west and midwest. Del worked for St. Alphonsus for many years until he retired as Director of its laboratory. Del was also a founding member of Treasure Valley Laboratory.
Del and Alice both had a lifelong love of the outdoors and animals. During the 1970s, they purchased a ranch in remote eastern Oregon. The ranch made an excellent weekend and vacation retreat far away from city noise. Everyone, including many, many friends of the family, had a wonderful time shooting, riding horses, hiking, hunting, fishing, and just generally exploring across the many acres. Del was a very knowledgeable and entertaining tour guide. Anyone who ever heard him perform his "calf in distress" call thought it was hilarious. Of course, the cows did not find it nearly as entertaining since he sounded pretty authentic.
Although they kept their Boise residence in order to remain close to their four grandchildren (and numerous granddogs and grandcats), Del and Alice enjoyed being able to spend more time at the ranch after his retirement.
Del was preceded in death by his father and mother. Del is survived by his wife Alice; children, Sarah (Kenley), Tim (Kris), Amy (Todd), and Paul (Carrie); and grandchildren, Benjamin and Michaela Downing, and Cecelia and Sydney Scott. Del is also survived by his brother Don, his brother Fred (Punky), and their children and grandchildren.
If you were lucky enough to meet Del, you were lucky enough to call him "friend." Del remembered the names of almost everyone he ever met; he treated his friends fairly and with respect. Del will be greatly missed by his family and many friends. A celebration of Del's life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Idaho Humane Society or Animals in Distress.