September 2, 1925 – June 9, 2016
George as a Child
George A. (Jim) Scott went to be with his Heavenly Father on June 9, 2016. He was born and raised in Aberdeen, WA, graduating from Weatherwax H.S. in 1943. He was active in church youth groups and the Boy Scouts. He loved the ocean and the mountains, with a special fondness for Mt. Rainier where he learned to ski at the age of three.
George served in WWII in Europe as a Sergeant in the Combat Engineers, receiving a Purple Heart. Returning to U of WA, he graduated cum laude in mechanical engineering in 1949. At that time, he was inducted into Tau Beta Phi and the science honorary Sigma Xi as well as being active in the Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity. He met his wife to be, Suzanne Leonardy, at University Presbyterian Church and they were later married there on August 5, 1950.
George as a Teen
He began his career of 36 years with General Electric which included mechanical engineering with thirteen patents to his name, international sales for GE and management at six different locations. In 1966 he was given the Master Design Award for his work in developing the self-cleaning range. He also developed GE’s first microwave oven of which the first prototype was used and tested by his large and busy family. While in Kentucky, he was awarded the honorary title of Kentucky Colonel and given the Key to My Old Kentucky Home.
In 1986, he retired from GE corporate headquarters as Manager of Engineering Management Consulting. Following retirement, he and his wife spent three months in Indonesia where George worked as a volunteer management consultant with International Executive Service Corporation. After returning to Connecticut, they began planning the move west to Redmond, WA to be closer to both his and Suzanne’s roots.
George and Sue – Wedding
Throughout his adult life, he enjoyed serving in leadership positions in various Presbyterian churches as a deacon or elder. He served on three sessions and as a delegate to the Presbytery and Synod as well as
sitting on the Permanent Judicial Committee of the Presbytery. Other service experiences included being President of the Fern Creek, KY Lions Club, building projects, Sunday School teacher, Board of Directors of Literacy Volunteers of America – (Bridgeport, CT Chapter) and serving on numerous committees at the Emerald Heights Retirement Community.
George and Sue loved to travel. In their lifetimes they visited all 50 states and managed to see most of the world, traveling to all seven continents and visiting over 80 countries.
George is survived by his wife of 65 years, Suzanne, three children: Susan Strong (Blair), Cynthia Sandor (Dan), and David Scott (Jan); seven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. His brother, Walter, and two daughters, Mary Kay and Sharon, preceded him in death.
Memorial services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 21 at Emerald Heights Retirement Community, 10901 176th Circle NE, Redmond, WA. Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to Bellevue Presbyterian Church or to the Emerald Heights Benevolence Fund.