Obituary

   

      Jeanene Watkins Scott, wife of Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve, died May 15 at her Salt Lake City home of cancer. She was 65.
      A daughter of Arthur V. and Andrea Rich Watkins, she was born June 30, 1929, in Orem, Utah. She moved to Washington, D.C., at age 18, after her father was elected to the U.S. Senate. She earned a degree in sociology from George Washington University.  At the LDS ward in Washington, D.C., she met Richard G. Scott, who had attended George Washington University, studying mechanical engineering.
      In an interview for an article in the Church News April 30, 1977, Elder Scott said: "Jeanene had been raised in a very active LDS family, and she had made some basic decisions in her life. She wanted to marry a returned missionary and to be married in the temple.
      "When we found out we were becoming very serious with each other, one day she let me know, although not in a challenging or defensive way, that the man she would marry would have to fulfill those requirements."
      At that time, Elder Scott was 22, a recent college graduate. He said he prayed "more earnestly than I had ever prayed in my life." He was prompted to go on a mission.
      He went to the Uruguay Mission. Jeanene Watkins served in the Northwestern States. He returned from his mission a short time after she did, and they were married two weeks later, on July 18, 1953, in the Manti Temple.
      She served with him as he presided over the Argentina Cordoba Mission from 1965-1969. Ever since Elder Scott was called as a General Authority in April 1977, Sister Scott traveled extensively with him.
      Sister Scott often addressed Church groups and spoke at seminars for wives of mission presidents. She did extensive family history work, was a spiritual living teacher in the Relief Society and had served in other Church organizations and callings.
      Elder and Sister Scott are parents of seven children, five of whom are living: Mary Lee Scott, Orem, Utah; Kenneth L. Scott, Mesa, Ariz.; Linda (Monte) Mickle, Houston, Texas; David M. Scott, Salt Lake City; and Michael W. Scott, Provo, Utah. Sister Scott is survived also by six grandchildren.
      Funeral services were scheduled for Friday noon at the Salt Lake Mt. Olympus North Stake Center, with burial in the Wastach Lawn Memorial Park in Salt Lake City.

The year doesn't appear in this obituary.  It was 1995.  She's been gone for 17 years today.  So I choose to write about her (and her husband) today.  No, I'm not related to her, when I hear Elder Scott speak of her in general conference, it comforts me. 

I've heard soooo many people talk about all the miracles in their lives that have come through their faith.  More often than not, that hurts.  It's a combination of anger, jealousy and self-doubt in my own personal faith.  More than those things though, it's a knowledge-- a knowledgle that any day when their faith doesn't match God's will, they might be telling a different story.  BUT,  when I hear an apostle of the Lord grieving for the love of his life,  I realize that if anyone could've had or made a miracle, it's him.  Who could give a more fervent blessing or deserve to have his needs met more than him?   His wife is still gone.    2 of his children are also gone.   Even with his mountain of faith, things didn't go the way he would've wanted.   He's still grieving 17 years later and he's faithful anyway.

I wonder how he feels in testiomony meetings when people stand and relate the stories of miraculous healings.  I wonder if, as a prophet, seer and revelator, he can see--really see, the future with his beloved wife and children.  I wonder if that gives him comfort on days like today, when everyone assumes that it's been 17 years and he must be okay.  I wonder if, in 17 years, the  pain will still show on my face when I speak of Ian, the way it shows on his when he speaks of his wife.  I wonder if the time has flown for him and it still feels like it was just yesterday.

Here's a great quote from him about his wife and children who are gone. 

They provide a powerful motivation for each remaining
member of our family to live so that together we can
receive all of the eternal blessings promised in the temple.

I hope I can always feel that way too.