Jim (James) L. Scott, age 79, a former resident of Fort Scott, peacefully passed away on Monday, November 24, 2025, in Excelsior, Minnesota of heart failure.
Jim was born on November 18, 1946, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Lucille Smith. He was raised by his mother, Lucille, his Grandma Eva, and later his stepfather, Gene Smith. Some of his fondest childhood memories were spent swimming, boating, and water-skiing at the Lake of the Ozarks. In school, he was an avid basketball player and proudly represented Raytown High School, graduating in 1964.
Following graduation, Jim enlisted in the United States Air Force with hopes of seeing the world. He volunteered for three tours of duty in Vietnam, beginning a long and honorable military career.
In November 1969, Jim went on a blind date that would change the course of his life. He and Martha danced the night away, bonding over a shared love of Benson & Hedges Menthol cigarettes and their favorite Beatle, George Harrison. The very next day Jim visited Martha at Crown Drugstore, where she worked, and asked for a second date. She invited him over for dinner—an unforgettable meal that sealed their future. Just two weeks after meeting, they eloped at Kansas City’s City Hall on November 26, 1969, timing the wedding for Thanksgiving weekend so they’d have four days off to meet each other’s families.
Jim and Martha made their first home in Kansas City before moving to Nevada, Missouri, in 1972. There, Jim was active in the Jaycees, their church, and the National Guard. The young couple loved the outdoors and spent weekends camping, canoeing, and trout fishing. In 1976, Jim embraced one of his most cherished roles: Dad, when their daughter Sarah was born.
The family moved to Fort Scott in 1988, where Jim and Martha opened Scotty’s Wine and Spirits. They operated the business for more than 15 years and were honored with the Chamber of Commerce Small Business Award for their contributions to the community. Jim was also proud to serve as past president of the Kansas Liquor Dealers Association. In 2006, he retired as a highly decorated Master Sergeant with more than 25 years of combined active duty and National Guard service in both the Air Force and Army.
In 2013 and 2015, Jim became “Poppy” to his beloved granddaughters, Lucy and Piper, a role he cherished and embraced wholeheartedly.
Jim was deeply rooted in the Fort Scott community and was active in numerous organizations. He took great pride in his time as a Rotarian, helping organize countless fundraisers—from potato and spaghetti feeds to hosting Oktoberfest for 19 years, one of the club’s most celebrated events. Working alongside Martha, he also helped coordinate, fundraise for, and build the dog park at Gunn Park. For their extraordinary commitment to Fort Scott, Jim and Martha were jointly awarded the Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award—one of Jim’s proudest honors.
After losing Martha in 2022, Jim faced one of the hardest chapters of his life. At his daughter’s insistence, he moved to Minnesota, where he found renewed community at Presbyterian Homes in Spring Park. There, he sang in the choir, attended church, participated in the Veterans Association, and spent peaceful afternoons on the shores of Lake Minnetonka—often with a cigar in hand.
Jim is survived by his daughter, Sarah (Andrew) Punch, and their daughters, Lucy and Piper, of Excelsior, Minnesota. He is also survived by his sister, Patricia Templeton of Independence, Missouri, and his nephew, Nathan Templeton.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 AM Friday, December 5th, at Trinity Lutheran Church. Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery, Fort Scott. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 7:30 PM Thursday at Trinity Lutheran Church. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests supporting an organization meaningful to Jim, including Trinity Lutheran Church, VFW, or DAV and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted online at cheneywitt.com.
