July 12, 1924 – November 9, 2024
Charles T. Scott Sr. passed away suddenly on November 9th, at the age of 100. Charles will be remembered for his laughter and smile, his generous spirit, his playfulness, his love of family and his community, and a stubborn streak a mile long.
Charles, a WWII veteran and Cherokee Warrior, was born during a tornado on July 12, 1924, in Augusta, Kansas to Thomas and Pearl Scott. As the oldest boy of eight children, he milked cows, fed livestock, and plowed the fields with a hand plow. His mother died when he was 11, and he lived in Proctor, OK with his grandparents before going to the Dwight Mission and Haskell Indian boarding schools. When he graduated in 1943, he was drafted and served as a radioman in the Navy submarine service during the war, even though he was 6’3” tall and 128 lbs., far over the normal height limit. He met his beloved wife, B. Jean Cranmer, when she was in high school and he was home on leave. Their marriage in 1948 lasted for 61 years, until she passed in 2009. He and Jean loved to travel, visiting Micronesia, Ireland, Scandinavia, Canada, Mexico, and most of the fifty United States. While in his 70s and 80s, he caught his first marlin in Baja California and went down the Grand Canyon on a raft and on a mule trip. Charles celebrated his 100th birthday at Covenant Presbyterian Church in July with over 180 guests from around the globe.
After the war, he transferred into the U.S. Coast Guard, serving two tours of duty in Alaska, on the USCGC Citrus buoy tender in Ketchikan, and on Kodiak Island, where he established a secondary radio station for the Coast Guard. He was awarded two Life Saving Citations for detecting messages and directing maritime rescues in the waters of Alaska. He was proud to be a Cherokee Warrior and participated in a tribal Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. in 2014.
Charles served a total of 21 years in the military, and moved his family to Palo Alto in 1960 to work at the San Bruno Radio station as his last posting. After Charles retired from the Coast Guard, the next 17 years were spent in civil service at Lockheed. After his second retirement, he spent 31 years working for a friend at the Midtown Peninsula Hardware store in Palo Alto “for fun” until it closed in 2016.
Charles and Jean lived in their original Palo Alto house for 64 years and became iconic members of the Palo Alto community. Charles and Jean were two of the original organizers of the Midtown Residents’ Association, spearheading the development of Greer Park, where they are honored with a commemorative plaque. He was an active leader in Boy Scouts and the Camp Fire Girl communities, tutored children for many years in the Palo Alto schools through the Avenidas program, and served as a Deacon and member of Session at Covenant Presbyterian Church.
Charles lived life to its fullest. He enjoyed fishing, gold panning, playing cribbage, reading, sports, traveling, hosting international friends, and helping others. But mostly he loved time spent with his family and friends. He is survived by his children Charles Jr. (Jackie), Judy, Donna (Dave), his grandchildren Dan (Kayla), Nate, Rainie (Ally), Jennie and Jesse (Analisa), his great-grandchildren (Kenna and Loni), his sister Alice Crawford, and a wide circle of extended family and friends who will miss him deeply. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jean Scott, his son-in-law, John Sheibley and his siblings, Jesse Kaiser, Jennie May Leatham, Lenora Keliiaa, Georgia Kent, Sam Scott, Owen Scott, and Curtis Scott.
Charles was a force of strength and love. A memorial service and celebration of life will be held in the new year. If you wish to donate in Charles’s memory, please consider the following:
Dedicate a redwood tree with Sempervirens
Covenant Presbyterian Church
American Indian College Fund
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