Longboat Key Obituaries: Aug. 3, 2017

Arthur George Scott, 79, also known as Pete and Art, of Bradenton, died July 11.

Mr. Scott was born on Jan. 27, 1938, to Doris and Otis Seligman in Santa Fe, N.M. He was given his stepfather’s last name of Scott in 1943 following the death of his father.

While working toward his bachelor’s of science degree in civil engineering from New Mexico State University, Mr. Scott married his first wife, Marilyn Bicksler. After participating in ROTC and graduating from New Mexico State University, he served in the U.S. Army as a lieutenant.

Mr. Scott acquired Type I diabetes just out of the army while beginning a career in the U.S. Geological Survey.

 At USGS in Reston, Va., he traveled and wrote hydrologic journals on rivers and lakes from the Clinch River Valley in Virginia to Canada, and the Great Lakes and to Brazil. He called it “the best job in the world.”

Mr. Scott passed on his creativity, scientific knowledge and self-sufficiency to his children, Terri and Janice. They remember his paintings, remodeling their house and collecting historical artifacts from New Mexico.

In 1980, Mr. Scott met and married Bonnie Sharpless Scott. Mrs. Scott, a hairdresser, always took care of trimming his hair and beard to perfection.

The couple traveled from the Galapagos Islands to Africa to Jamaica, Thailand, the Caribbean and Brazil.

Mr. Scott is survived by his wife, Bonnie; daughters, Terri and Janice; their spouses; four grandchildren; niece Jhette Diamond; and beloved pets including dogs Koda II, Sunny and Tipper and birds Bubba, Tico and Cisco.

Donations can be made to the American Diabetes Association at diabetes.org or a local chapter of The Lighthouse for the Blind at lighthouseofmanasota.org.