Obituary of Gerald Scott

Gerald D. Scott, 75, entered the Presence of the Lord on Thursday, February 5, 2009 at home in Selinsgrove, PA after a long and brave fight with cancer. Pastor Scott was born on January 6, 1934 in Storm Lake, Iowa a son of the late Walter and Merle Scott. He began his adult life as a livestock dealer, owner of Scott Sheep Company, Storm Lake, IA. In 1964, he was licensed as a minister with the Assemblies of God and moved to New York City to head Urban Missions, an outreach to families, teens, and children living in decaying neighborhoods of the city. His love for children was evident in his early ministry as he conducted week-long children's meetings at churches throughout the Northeastern United States, appearing as ""Cowboy Jerry,"" using stories of the Old West to teach Gospel lessons. He was ordained by the NJ District Council of the Assemblies of God. In 1971, he became the pastor of the Washington Assembly of God, Washington, NJ, serving as pastor through two major expansions and the construction of the Worship Center in Washington, NJ. He also led the church to begin the Good Shepherd Christian Academy, a Christian School in Washington. He was Sr. Pastor at the time of his retirement from the church in July, 2000. After retirement, he started The Scott House, Inc., which serves as a private foster care program for babies born to mothers with addictions and a home for young children from families in crisis. In 2006, he relocated with The Scott House, Inc. to Selinsgrove, PA from New Jersey. Survivors:Pastor Scott is survived by his wife of 54 years, Lois Jeanne (Baker) Scott; his children, Jerald, Jr. and his wife, Beverly, Washington, NJ; Jeanne Rae Bechtel and her husband, John, Union, NJ; Andre and his wife, Mildred, Washington, NJ; Jessica Santiago and her husband Haydrian, Oceanside, CA; Christina Ann, Easton, PA; Christopher Joseph, and his wife, Kristin, Ashburn, VA; Jonetta, Michael, Cassandra, Christian, Scotty, Matthew, Edward, and Micheala Roberts, all at home. He has many grandchildren, Jay, Sean, Christine, Maribel, children of Jerald, Jr.; John, Josh, Jason, Jana, Jeremy, Justin, and Julie, children of Jeanne and Yazmina and Nadia, daughters of Jessica. In addition, he is mourned by dozens of people to whom he was a foster father. He is also survived by his sisters, Elinor Hagen of Los Angeles, CA, and Elsie Rich, and her husband, Donald, of Raymond, CA, and Evelyn Sandgren, and her husband, Paul, of Topeka, KS; his brothers, George of Drakesville, IA and Glen and his wife, Wilda, of Verona, MO. A sister, Ellen Scott died previously. Services: There will be no calling hours. A private funeral for members of the immediate family will precede burial at Montana Cemetery, Harmony Township, NJ. A memorial service to celebrate the life and ministry of Rev. Gerald Scott will be held at the Washington Assembly of God, 33 Brass Castle Road, Washington, NJ on Saturday, February 14, 2009- at 1 PM, followed by a reception at the church's fellowship hall. Friends and colleagues are invited to attend this memorial to give thanks to God for the life and work of Gerald Scott. Memorials: The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be sent to the either, Good Shepherd Christian Academy, 490 Route 57 W, Washington, NJ 07882; or the Washington Assembly of God, 33 Brass Castle Road, Washington, NJ 07882. The DeVoe Funeral Service 136 West Washington Ave, Washington NJ has been entrusted with his arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed at www.devoefuneral.com. Tributes: Tribute from: Marie The Earth lost a wonderful man who has done so much, all from his heart, for mankind. A man who was a father to many children who needed him. A man who had so much love to give. He was a man who truly walked in Jesus's path. I am very honored to have known Mr. Scott. Although I didn't know him very long, what I did know of him was that he was a great man who took care of God's Children. May he rest in Peace. I send my sympathy and prayers to the family to help heal them during their time of loss. I rejoice and celebrate his soul to live with the Lord forever. Amen Our deepest sympathy to the Scott family. Pastor will be greatly missed by our family. His love for his congregation will not be forgotten. We all learned much from his gentle way of teaching. Steve, Lori, Matthew and Andrew Herzer Tribute from: damaris brunner we are so sorry for your lost he will be missed. The Brunner Family Tribute from: Jennifer Gallagher Bloch I am deeply saddened by the passing of Pastor, but at the same time tankful for have been blessed to have had him part of my life. We all have the faith in knowing where he is and now his physical battle is finished. He is well, His place has been prepared for him, his rewards in heaven will be bountiful, just as his giving was here on earth. Mrs. Scott, I will keep you in my prayers through your time of sorrow. May God keep you and Bless you. Tribute from: Frank The first time I saw Rev. Scott, I was in the hospital. Although I hadn't attended his church, he took the time to pray with me several times. I truely could see that he was definitely a man of God. We were talking one day and I asked him how he could do so many wonderful things in his life. He said he felt he needed to help wherever he could. It seemed to me he was everywhere he could be. I am truly thankful to have known him. His passing will be a great loss to those who knew him. My prayers are with his family and friends, who ae so many. May God Bless you all. Tribute from: Dianne Johnson As a former volunteer and supporter of ""the Scott House,"" I feel blessed to have known Pastor Scott and his family. My prayers are with all of them at this difficult time. He not only touched the lives of so many, he also saved the lives of those lucky enough to have made themselves known to Paster Scott and his family. Please accept my deepest regrets. May God bless all of those closest to him. To know Pastor Gerald D. Scott was to love him. Someone wrote how they wondered how he could be so many places at once (comforting others). I asked him that and he said ""I don't feel like I do enough"". I said ""Then I'm doomed. I don't have the words to express how I feel about Pastor Scott. However, I will say I am forever changed for having known him and his family. He was a Pastor, father figure, friend, mentor, etc..... as is his wife Jeanne. Sister Scott and family, Fred and I will be praying for your tremendous loss. The next thing I'll do is jump for joy because his ""Blessed Assurance"" has become a reality. He once told me ""If you're not longing to see Jesus, then something is wrong"". Amen, Pastor Scott. Will see you when I get there. May the Lord bless you and keep you Sister Scott and family until His return! Love, Diane & Fred Goble Tribute from: michael and elisabeth claypotch Pastor scott was there for some of the most troubling times of my life,hes showed up at a hospital when my father was killed and also when I had a stroke many years later praying for us and inviting the holy spirit into our lives giving us strength,Ive learned through him how to have more faith when i couldnt see over the mountain., Iwill miss him and will look forward to seeing him again in glory , praise god for bringing this man into our lives. Tribute from: doris romanowitch this man was truly a man of god .he was always there when you needed support. he was there for our family many times. his family are always in my prayers ,they are true people of god ,each and everyone of them.he is now with his lord he serve and loved so much.i will miss him,but as his was told me when my father went to be with the lord 'he can't come to you but you can go to him' and someday when the lord calls me home i will see him.he was my teacher and his son pastor jerry. i thank the lord for putting him in my life.my prayers for comfort go out to the scott's,for as much believe they have in the lord they are hurting,jesus will see them through this.thank you pastor for all your love you have given to everyone.see you in heaven! Tribute from: Robin Madsen Pastor Scott was a wonderful man who will be truly missed. He took care of my newborn grandson through the Scott House until my husband and I were able to get custody of him. My prayers are with his family. Love, Paul, Robin, Kristen, Andrew and Damien Madsen Tribute from: Peg Pastor Scott will always be in my heart, through him I met the Lord Jesus Christ. I attended the church in the 70,s and responded to an alter call and my life has never been the same. I often thought of writing him a letter to tell him how grateful I was to him but never did, I will thank him in heaven. Washington Assembly of God and Pastor Scott are part of my testimony of how God changed my life and I will never forget him. I pray God would comfort the family in this time of bereavement. Peg