James Lyman "Scooter" Welch

1952 - 2024

James Lyman "Scooter" Welch passed away at his home in Fairbanks, Alaska, on Tuesday, Aug. 20. He was born Aug. 22, 1952 in Waco, Texas, the first of two children born to James and Marcaline Welch.
He grew up in Penelope, Texas, raised by his parents, along with his younger sister, Tammy. Growing up in the small town, he attended the local K-12 school. His father coached his little league baseball team, and his devoted mother actively supported his activities. In high school, Scooter was voted by his peers as "most popular" and "most likely to succeed." He played on the school basketball and baseball teams and was a member of the Future Farmers of America and his church.
After Scooter graduated from Penelope High School, he attended Hill Junior College, Baylor University, and Tarleton State University, earning a B.S. in criminal justice and an M.A. in public administration.
Scooter and his wife, Karla, met in Texas in 1977 while Karla was a Master's student at Baylor University and Scooter was moonlighting as the manager of the apartment complex Karla lived at. As Scooter would tell the story, he was fascinated by this red-headed Alaska girl who drove to Texas all the way from Fairbanks, Alaska, along with her 16-year-old sister, Sibyl.
Scooter and Karla married in 1979. Four years later the couple packed and drove to Fairbanks on the Al-Can Highway. On the road-trip they had their kids Stevie and Jamie, two huskies, a 30-foot trailer, an unreliable Porsche and a '65 Chevrolet pick-up truck (with frequent flat tires). After an eventful drive the family arrived safely in Fairbanks in the summer of 1983.
Scooter's professional life was one of service. He was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, a police officer with the Waco Police Department for 12 years, with Alyeska Security for two years, at the Fairbanks Police Department for 20 years, and at the Resource Center for Parents and Children for ten years.
He was sworn in as an FPD officer in 1985. While at the Fairbanks Police Department Scooter rose through the ranks from officer to sergeant, lieutenant, deputy chief, retiring at the rank of chief. During his time at FPD, Scooter started the K-9 program, obtained a TTY device for dispatch, and reestablished the police motorcycle program. He was an advisor for the Police Explorer Post and coordinator for the Cadet Program. In 1992 Scooter graduated from the prestigious FBI National Training Academy in Quantico, Virginia.
Scooter was the consummate professional, leader, and mentor. He engaged in community policing and building strong relationships within Fairbanks. Scooter pulled together the consensus of business and community leaders, social service organizations, and legislators, obtaining sufficient money to build a modern and functional police station. A permanent plaque memorializing his leadership and efforts is posted in the lobby of the Fairbanks police station.
After Scooter retired from FPD, he worked at the Outpost, the Harley-Davidson shop. He enjoyed interacting with the public and being surrounded by motorcycles. He had a special affinity for BMWs. Scooter grew his beard long and enjoyed playing Santa Claus at holiday parties at the Outpost.
Scooter next worked at RCPC, first in the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program and later as the RCPC executive director. He thoroughly enjoyed his work at RCPC because children and families were so important to him. RCPC staff remember Scooter as very supportive and fun to work with.
Scooter was a motorhead; often working on several motorcycle and automobile projects simultaneously. He enjoyed reading and talking about cars, trucks, and motorcycles. If ever there was a question about a rare or unusual vehicle, Scooter usually had the answer.
Scooter loved to drive. He drove the Al-Can Highway numerous times. In recent years Scooter and Karla drove "Wild Blue Yonder," their sprinter van, across the United States several times, visiting friends and family along the way. Scooter was always happy to drive the van and be the support crew for the many bike adventures Karla and her friends went on.
Scooter cherished his family, adored Karla, and loved being a dad. Together with Karla, he raised five self-reliant children. He was very proud of Karla and the kids, often telling his friends and colleagues about their activities and achievements. Scooter's children remember how he prioritized them, carefully listened to their opinions and concerns, gently shared any words of wisdom, and ended every conversation with an "I love you." Throughout his years living in Alaska, he maintained a special bond with his Texas family and enjoyed visiting them often.
Scooter had the "gift of gab." No one he met stayed a stranger for long. Sometimes his kids, while running errands with Scooter, thought their dad was friends with the whole town as he seemed to enthusiastically converse with people everywhere they went.
Scooter was a wonderful friend and always available to friends and family to come to the rescue and cheerfully lend a hand. He enjoyed calling his friends and brainstorming all kinds of ideas with them such as starting a business, opening a pie shop, establishing a hostel for motorcycle travelers, car and truck projects, or opening a BBQ place. Scooter was a certified Kansas City BBQ Judge.
Scooter is survived by his beloved wife, Karla Taylor-Welch; his mother, Amy Marcaline Welch; his favorite sister, Tamara "Tammy" Christian; his brother-in-law, Daniel "Danny" Christian; and his children, LCDR James "Jamie" Welch, Jamie's wife Kristin, Christopher Cody Welch, Kaitlin Cox, Kaitlin's husband Nathan, and Kara Welch; and grandchildren, Hunter, Brady, and Holden Welch; Avery and Sophie Barnett, Cyrus, Maya, Josiah and Ezra Cox.
Scooter is preceded in death by his father, James Welch; and son, Stephen "Stevie" Welch.
Memorial Services will be held at 4 p.m. on Aug. 30 at University Baptist Church, 1197 University Ave., Fairbanks. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to RCPC Stevie's Place.