Scott Layson McCann

Scott McCann lived his life fully, in each and every moment, with undefeated positivity and a genuine concern for others. He treasured his wife Emily and their children Dylan, Joseph, and Ella Grace. The McCann house was always open to friends as the best place for fishing, sleepovers, dirt bikes, fire pits, and great meals around their dinner table. Scott's family and friends mourn his passing on January 24, 2026, and continue to celebrate how Scott greeted them with his huge smile and extra-large bear hug.

Scott Layson McCann was born to Gerell and Linda McCann on January 19, 1972, in Dallas, Texas. From an early age, Scott loved the outdoors, spending his days playing outside with his older sister Lara until the sun went down. When the family moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, they spent the winter sledding and building igloos and snow forts. Scott began playing youth sports on a soccer team coached by his father called the SuperToes, where he learned about teamwork and the joy of winning championships with his friends. Those lessons and experiences were formative, and Scott would spend the rest of his life playing outside, building things with others, and sharing his values through youth sports.

The family later returned to Texas and built their home in Southlake. Frequent trips to Louisiana to visit Uncle James, Aunt Cindy, and cousins Clint, Jason, and Ashley left a lasting impression on Scott. Their home was surrounded by open land, with four-wheelers and dirt bikes for the kids to ride. Scott always dreamed of one day creating a similar outdoor life for his own family.

Scott graduated from Southlake Carroll High School in 1990, playing football for the Dragons on their first state championship team. He valued the strong sense of community and formed lifelong friendships that continue through their families today. Scott was easygoing and made everyone feel important-especially his high school sweetheart Emily, whom he met at Lake Grapevine in 1990. Though they went separate ways in college, their love and connection were instant. They both kept shoeboxes filled with love letters, event tickets, and mixtapes as memories they unknowingly saved for one another and rediscovered years later, capturing that moment in their young lives.

Scott graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Analysis. He enjoyed an extended stay in College Station and loved every minute of it. He bartended at Hurricane Harry's and The Tap, where he enjoyed live bands and country music. He had fun searching out repair projects to work on when business was slow, always living out his values of hard work and leaving things better than you found them.

Scott spent more than 25 years in Information Technology. His role at Infor included director of software development and took him around the world. In his final six years, he served as CIO of the Steve Silver Company, bringing his expertise in global ERP systems to a company that had once been his customer. Scott considered the Steve Silver team to be family and was a loyal and valued associate who reflected the grit and determination behind a growing a family business.

With a nudge from his mother, Scott and Emily were reunited and eventually married on Grand Cayman Island in 2006. They built a life focused on making each other's dreams come true, creating a family, and appreciating every day God gave them. They made a lifetime of memories together, from nightly dinners and dancing on their big front porch in North Carolina to their backyard parties with friends, family, and kids by their pond in Texas. Scott's favorite place was anywhere near the water, especially if a boat was involved. Their song, "Making Memories of Us" by Keith Urban, reflected the life and moments they shared with their children, family, and friends.

Scott was all-in on everything he did in life. Known for his strength, kindness, humility, selflessness, and welcoming spirit, he coached youth soccer teams-the SuperToes, Razors and Swarm-attended daddy-daughter dances, and stood in the front row at every school event with a video camera in hand. He always made time in his schedule to show up and celebrate the accomplishments of his children, their friends, and his niece and nephews.

The Rockwall-Heath High School Hawks and youth football teams had no better supporter and role model than Scott. Holding Ella Grace on his hip, Scott spent late summer and fall on the practice fields running drills for Dylan, Joseph, and their youth football teams. As friends in preschool became teammates high school, Scott challenged each of them to remember every moment leading up to the 2025 season and to celebrate everything the team was going to accomplish together-as he said, "This is it!" The team was resilient and put together an impressive string of victories in 2025, and so did Scott. He had a special bond with the Heath football players, and each celebrated the other every step of the way.

Scott checked off the most important things on his bucket list: rekindling a deep relationship with God and living a life filled with memories with Emily, Dylan, Joeseph, and Ella Grace in a home surrounded by open land. When the kids needed a place to play in the woods, Scott threw his energy into the design and construction of a treehouse and surrounding area they called the Secret Garden. With his John Deere tractor, Scott cut trails for four wheelers and dirt bikes. As Scott always said, "a man on a tractor is a happy man." Of course, he made sure to install lighting at the Secret Garden, so the fun would never have to end when the sun goes down.

Scott was preceded in death by his father Gerell McCann, father-in-law Timothy Sanders, and Emily's stepfather Norman Clark. He is survived by his wife and teammate in life Emily McCann and their beautiful children, who have his heart for eternity, Dylan, Joseph, and Ella Grace of Heath, Texas; mother Linda McCann of Dallas, Texas; sister Lara Smith, her husband David, and their children Henry, Annie, and Chuck of Highland Park, Texas; mother-in-law Jefferie "Mimi" Clark of Kerens, Texas; brother-in-law Brad Sanders of Kerens, Texas; brother-in-law Bryan Sanders, his wife Leana, and their son Jesse of Smithville, Texas; Bryan and Leana's son Braden Sanders and wife Katlyn of Jacksonville, Florida; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

The McCann family is humbled by the love, actions, and support their friends, family, and community have shown over the last ten months. The outpouring of care and answered prayers extended Scott's life immeasurably. Scott lived out his Christian faith through the generosity and support he gave to others. Your prayers and kind gestures meant the world to Scott and have been an unforgettable blessing for the McCann family.

Scott's greatest legacy is the life he built with Emily and the love he poured into their children. He showed them how to live with integrity, kindness, and joy-by example, every day. Through his unwavering presence, encouragement, and devotion to his family, he gave them a foundation of faith, confidence, and love that will guide them always. Being a husband and father was his greatest pride, and his love will forever surround them.

A service celebrating Scott McCann's life will be held February 12, 2026. Visitation will begin at 10:00 am followed by the service at 11:00 am at Lakepointe Church, 701 E. Interstate 30, Rockwall, Texas 75087.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make time to do the things Scott loved best-sit outside with a warm fire, cold drinks, good music, and close friends. Donations may also be made in Scott's honor to the Supportive Care Center at the MD Anderson Cancer Center.