Ronald J. Scott

Ronald J. Scott, a long-time Finney County resident, died Saturday, May 30 in his home in Cedaredge, CO at age 86. He was born October 13, 1928 in Garden City, the son of Margaret (Buck) and Jesse Scott.

Ronald attended Finney County rural schools and graduated from Garden City High School in 1946. He farmed in NE Finney County until 1965, when he attended and graduated from the Western College of Auctioneering in Billings, MT and subsequently joined his brother Jesse Scott, Jr. in the auction and real estate business. In 1966 he purchased Scott Auction/Scott Realtors, which he owned and operated until his retirement in 1990, selling it then to his son Kent. He served terms as president of the Kansas State Auctioneers Association and the Garden City Board of Realtors, and was inducted into the Kansas Auctioneer Hall of Fame in 1997. He remained active as an auctioneer until 2013, conducting dozens of charity auctions and assisting with his son’s and grandson’s auctions. He was a member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Delta CO and a former member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Garden City, as well as the Garden City Elks Club and American Legion. Ronald was an avid Colorado fisherman and wild game hunter; he led many a pheasant and dove hunting party in and around Finney County, and he enjoyed art projects such as picture framing and crafting lamp posts out of the gnarled trunks of fallen trees.

Survivors include his five children: Laura Lee of McCall, ID, Joe & wife Carol Scott of Sublette, KS, Kent Scott of Garden City, KS, Preston & wife Tonney Scott of Liberal, KS, and Krista Scott and husband Brian Martinson of Arlington, TX, as well as 10 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. 

Ronald is preceded in death by his parents, sisters Melba Thomas and Shirley Schoap, brother Jesse and grandson Darren Lee.

Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, June 5, 2015 at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Garden City with Rev. Larry Steadman officiating. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery, with a luncheon following at St. Thomas. Friends may call from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday at Garnand Funeral Home in Garden City. The family requests memorials given to the Finney County Historical Society or the St. Thomas Episcopal Church Endowment Fund, both in care of Garnand Funeral Home of Garden City.