Raymond Scott, 81, Was Educator and Developer

Raymond F. Scott, retired educator, developer and builder, died at the age of 81 at the Cape Cod Hospital on Sept. 19. Ray lived his entire life close to the sea and celebrated the natural beauty of Cape Cod every day of his life.

Growing up in Oak Bluffs, Ray spent many happy hours fishing with his brother, Bob Scott, who survives him. He is also survived by his sister, Helene Andrews. He was predeceased by his brother, Francis, and their parents, Frank and Elizabeth Scott. He is survived by his aunt, Dorothy Kelley, and her husband, Robert, of Edgartown, as well as a large extended family of cousins, nieces and nephews.

Following his graduation from Oak Bluffs High School, Ray served in the Army as an aviation cadet and aerial gunner and was honorably discharged in 1945. He graduated summa cum laude from Boston University and earned his master's degree from Bridgewater State Teachers College.

Much of his career in public education was spent in administration - he served as a principal in several Cape and southeastern Massachusetts elementary school systems. He also developed regional media resource labs for area school districts. Interestingly, Ray often expressed his regret at having left the classroom for administrative positions, as he always said his greatest professional satisfaction was derived from teaching fifth and sixth grade science.

Ray was married to Helen Healey Scott, with whom he had six children. He is survived by daughters Kerry Scott, Melissa Scott and her husband, John Rickett, all of Oak Bluffs, Heidi Scott and her son, Ryan, of Venice, Fla., Wendy Scott and her husband, Jim Smith, of Bar Harbor, Me., and Sarasota, Fla., and Laurie, her husband, Dan Francey, and their daughter, Alyssa, of Sarasota. Helen, from whom he was divorced, predeceased him, as did their daughter, Bonnie Scott of Shenandoah, Va.

In addition to his career as an educator, Ray also was a contractor and builder, both on the Vineyard and later on the Cape. He pointed with great pride to the lovely homes he built, many of them with his lifelong friend and colleague, Bob Gardner of Edgartown.

Ray moved from the Vineyard to live in Sandwich, where he married his second wife, elementary school teacher and artist Ann (Fekkes) Hughes Scott, who predeceased him. He is survived by his stepchildren Harold B. Hughes Jr. of Cotuit, Cynthia Hughes Nock of Carlisle and Kimberley Mercer of Centerville and six step-grandchildren.

During their retirement years together, Ray and Ann spent many happy hours volunteering at local nursing homes, walking the Cape beaches with their beloved dogs Lucy and Chula, gardening, painting and woodworking. They will be best remembered, though, for their "rambles," as it was their greatest joy to hop in the car and ride the back roads of New England and especially the Cape in search of another beach, lakefront, farm or garden.

Ray met this past summer's illness - his first - with grace and humor. In the lovely words of one of his caregivers, "He faced many new physical and medical challenges but he always greeted us with a smile and a mischievous wink. He was a delightful patient and a gentleman . . . happy and well-loved by all of us who took care of him. It was a pleasure and a privilege to have worked with him. His passing shocked and saddened us all and he will be sadly missed."

Ray's family is deeply grateful to all who supported him through the last few difficult months. He received excellent medical care and support services at the Falmouth Hospital, the Rehabilitation Hospital of Cape Cod and the Islands and Cape Heritage in Sandwich. The staff and management at Shawme Heights could not have been kinder and his friends there were wonderfully supportive. Charles Simmons, his next door neighbor, was a great comfort, especially as Ray's daughters did not live close enough to help on a daily basis.

A memorial service will be hosted by his daughters at Shawme Heights, 5 Leveridge Lane, in Sandwich, at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1. The Rev. Dr. Kristen Harper of the Barnstable Unitarian Church will officiate the celebration of Ray's life.

The family requests that memorial gifts be directed to Grace House, P.O. Box 1167, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557, a nonprofit foundation established in his daughter Bonnie's name to provide a safe home for women in recovery.