Derek Scott

1975 - 2023

Derek Scott
March 16, 1975 - June 8, 2023
Wake Forest, North Carolina - Derek Michael Scott passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 8, 2023 at WakeMed Hospital in Raleigh, NC, after suffering a catastrophic brain aneurysm and stroke on June 6. His loving wife, Heather (née Green), honored his organ donor status and he was able to provide a second chance at life for three people.
Derek was born on March 16, 1975 in Fort Sill, Oklahoma to Michael and Kerry Scott. He was raised in Frankfort, Indiana. Derek was an avid golfer, a National Merit Scholar, and was one of the first graduating classes at the Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities in 1993. Derek attended the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana and graduated in 1997. He worked for 23 years at Dell-EMC in Durham, North Carolina as a Software Engineer where he received several patents, numerous awards, and was well-respected by his peers and supervisors.
Derek was a passionate advocate for public education. He worked diligently providing data and analysis for education advocacy projects so that lawmakers and budget writers could provide NC school children the best educational opportunities. His most recent passion project was a brilliant collaborative work on teacher pay with a Wake County teacher and was recently featured on several news organizations.
In 2006, "Slart called," and met the love of his life, former Wake County School Board Member Heather Scott, during a gathering of poker friends. They were married on June 21, 2008 in Valparaiso, Indiana at St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Student Center and the couple then resided at Derek's home in Morrisville, NC. Their beloved son Alex was born in 2010, and they moved to Raleigh, NC in 2012 where they celebrated the birth of their beautiful daughter, Madeleine. In 2019, the Scott Family moved to their "forever home" at the Heritage Golf Neighborhood in Wake Forest. Here, Derek finally fulfilled his dream of living on a golf course. Brinkley, Derek's cherished Golden Retriever, joined their family that same year and the two were inseparable.
Derek has left an enormous impression on the lives of many, and he will not be forgotten.
Derek is survived by his wife, Heather; son, Alex; daughter, Madeleine; parents, Michael and Kerry (Howell) Scott; sister, Toni Scott (husband Ramon); nephews, Michael, Ryan, and Ethan Gonzalez, Brayden Green; nieces, Taylor and Delaney Green.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Corner & Meeting House of Wake Forest from 11AM-1PM on June 21. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Public Schools First NC, P.O. BOX 37832, Raleigh NC 27627 (https://www.publicschoolsfirstnc.org/donate/)