Cecil Scott

(From Mason-Woodard Mortuary)

Cecil Scott was born Cecil Mabel Grice on June 3, 1925 in Groton, South Dakota, the last of six children born to John and Mabel (Leake) Grice. She began attending country school near Hecla, South Dakota. 

Hoping for better health for her mother, the family moved to Nevis, Minnesota in 1934; but her mother passed away within a few months of their arrival. In 1936 the family moved to Cleveland, Minnesota. 

By the time she graduated from Cleveland High School in 1943 she had lived through the Great Depression, World War II (two brothers served), two older sisters had married and her older brother was a sophomore at Minnesota Bible College (now Crossroads College). After she enrolled in Minnesota Bible College, her dad sold the household goods and became a tenant farmer, living with the farmer for whom he worked.

In the fall of 1944, following the seasonal farm work, her dad went to spend the winter with his oldest daughter and husband in San Antonio, Texas. In January 1945, Cecil became too sick to live in the college girls’ dorm so she, too, went to San Antonio. There she met Bob Scott who was attending Restoration Bible College. Their first date was on Valentine’s Day, 1945, and they were married in Cleveland, Minnesota, on June 27, 1946.

Prior to their marriage, Bob had accepted a call to be the minister of the Christian Church in Humboldt, Kansas, in order to attend Ozark Bible College (now Ozark Christian College). Their honeymoon concluded by moving into the parsonage in Humboldt with everything they owned in the back seat of a Model A Ford which they purchased with borrowed money.

Between 1949 and 1964 Cecil became the mother of five boys: Dan, Mark, Phil, Tom and Tim. These boys and their wives have blessed Bob and Cecil with twenty grandchildren, seventeen grandchildren by marriage, and fifty great grandchildren, with two more on the way. Four of the five sons are in Christian ministry, as are twelve of the grandchildren and their spouses.

She and Bob have served churches in Kansas, Missouri, Indiana and Iowa. At the Iowa Christian Convention in 1995 she was honored as providing Outstanding Servant Leadership in Kingdom Work in Iowa. Throughout her life, dozens of young people have been blessed by her teaching in Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, camps and retreats. Scores of missionaries, preachers, and students have found housing and delicious meals in the homes in which they lived. She also was employed at a drug store in Francesville, Indiana and for the Waterloo, Iowa school system.

Surviving are her husband of 74 years Bob, sons and wives: Dan, Mark and Carla, Phil, Tom and Brenda, and Tim and Julie, 20 grandchildren and 50 great grandchildren, with two on the way, one brother Earl Grice and wife Irene of Rochester, Minnesota, and a host of extended family and friends. Preceding her in death were her parents and four of her siblings.

Visitation will be held Monday evening, January 18th from 6-7 PM at Mason Woodard Mortuary Chapel. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, January 19th, at 10:00 AM at Park Plaza Christian Church, 32nd and Indiana, Joplin, MO. Burial will follow at Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Mason Woodard Mortuary. Memorial contributions are requested to Ozark Christian College in care of the Mortuary.