Scottie Leon Nolan

Scottie Leon Nolan, age 84, passed away at his home on February 10, 2024 in Gentry, Ar. He was born to Woodrow and Lorene Nolan in Uniontown, AR on May 27, 1939. He graduated from Cedarville High School in 1958 and was the first in the school's history to receive a basketball scholarship to Westark Community College. He struggled to pay for school, so in 1960, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and proudly served his country from 1960-1964 aboard the USS Hancock. In 1965, with help from the GI bill, he was able to finish his education and received a Bachelors Degree in Education from the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville. On December 23, 1966, he married Lacleta Maddox from Paris, Ar. The couple moved to Ola, AR where he began his coaching career and she worked as an x-ray technician. Scottie coached at Ola from 1968-1972 and this is where their three children were born. They then moved to Quitman where he coached from 1972-1983 and on to Mount Vernon. The pinnacle of his coaching career came at Gentry, AR where he coached from 1983 to 1992. This is where he was able to secure a AA State Championship for the Lady Pioneers in 1989 from an undefeated team who lost their last game at State Overalls from a nationally ranked (7th) Bryant girls team by three points. The nine years he coached at Gentry his overall record was 232-44. The state championship team proved to be a special team for Coach Nolan, as they only lost five games their whole high school career. They went seven years and never lost a home game and were involved in an 87 game consecutive conference winning streak. He retired from coaching but shortly returned to coach at Fayetteville, Bentonville and Colcord, OK. Scottie's wife, LaCleta passed away from cancer in 1999 and in 2015, He married Bobbie Marie Sullivan.
Coach Nolan devoted himself to not only developing great players but young women with great character and indispensable work ethics. Most all of his players and students would define him as their mentor and most influential person in their life. He was voted Coach of the Year eight times and went to State Playoffs seven of the last nine years at his time at Gentry. In 2019, he was voted by his peers to be inducted into the Arkansas Coaching Hall of Fame. Coach Nolan was quite the character and may be more famous for his storytelling, and sense of humor than his coaching tactics. He enjoyed taking trips with his friends, playing cards, playing golf, going to the races, trying to attend each hospitality room during tournament season and gardening with his stepson, Brian. He is preceeded in death by his wife Lacleta and his parents. He leaves behind a wife, Bobbie of Gentry and three children, Courtney Cox of Gentry, Brad Nolan of Frankfurt, KY and Aaron and Carrie Clauson of Mulberry, AR, and 10 grandchildren. He has a stepson, Brian Sullivan, of Gentry and stepdaughter Angela Moore of Rogers. He has 3 siblings; Glyn and Annalee Nolan of Uniontown, Sharon Partain of Uniontown and Donnie and Charlotte Nolan of Uniontown. Scottie attended church at the Decatur Sale Barn Church in Decatur, AR where it is pastored by Terry Horton. Visitation will be at Wasson Funeral Home on Wednesday February 14, in Siloam Springs from 6:00-8:00 pm. Funeral Service will be officiated by Pastor Terry Horton and Coach Mark Sherrell at the Decatur Sale Barn Church in Decatur, AR. at 9 am. There will be a short grave side ceremony at Allison Cemetery in Uniontown, AR. Pallbearers are Gerald Hudson, Jim Stafford, William Roundtree, Nathan Nolan, Pat Widders, Danny Farmer, and Vernon Russell. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations to be made to the Decatur Sale Barn Church in Decatur, AR. To sign the online guestbook, please visit: www.wassonfuneralhome.