June 21, 1911 - June 21, 2008

Goldie Surmon Scott, 96, former teacher, business woman and an active member of the Lebanon community since 1946, died Friday at Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital. Her life and contributions to the community will be commemorated at a memorial service at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Lebanon First Assembly of God.

Born to George and Caroline Surmon in Wessington, S.D., she developed a thirst for education at an early age and was the first student from her rural high school to attend college. In 1939, she married LuVerne Scott in Reno, Nev. Their first home was in Cornucopia in the Wallowa Mountains. In 1946 they purchased a home on Main Street and settled in Lebanon.

A love of education and learning motivated Goldie throughout life. Prior to her marriage, she taught for 10 years in South Dakota schools. When she moved to Lebanon with her husband and their two young children, she quickly turned their Main Street home into another teaching opportunity by opening a daycare center that she operated until her husband's death.

When LuVerne Scott died in 1950, Goldie returned to her pre-marriage vocation of teaching. Starting with three years in the two-room Tennessee School north of Lebanon, she taught in the area for 26 years, finishing at Lebanon Middle School. Following her retirement from public school teaching in 1976, she volunteered for 10 years at East Linn Christian Academy. At East Linn, she explored her fascination with technology by serving as yearbook advisor and photography teacher. She turned her kitchen into a darkroom where she practiced at night to stay ahead of the students.

When she resigned as yearbook advisor at age 75, she took on individual tutoring students who ranged from Vietnamese refugees who came to her home to learn English, to members of church youth groups who needed assistance with math or reading.

Long active in community and church affairs, she was one of the founding organizers of Christian Business and Professional Women of Lebanon. She served on the board of directors of Linn-Co Federal Credit Union almost 50 years until her death. The Goldie Scott Educational Building in Lebanon was dedicated in October 2007 and named in her honor.

Hobbies and church involvement enriched her life and offered additional opportunities to teach and to serve. She was an active member of the Santiam Garden Club and an avid gardener who for many years provided flowers from her yard for her church's Sunday services. Her roses often brought home ribbons from the Strawberry Festival flower show.

With members of the hospital auxiliary, she produced knit caps for newborns and shaped paper roses for patient trays. She enjoyed quilting, sewing, language study, cooking, stamp collecting and visiting with friends and family. She worked crossword puzzles in ink and never lost her mental edge. Until a week before her death, she maintained an active e-mail correspondence with friends and family and enjoyed listening to her iPod.

She is survived by her daughter, Carolyn Scott Kortge and husband Dean of Eugene; son Lyle Scott and wife Linda of Salem; sister Mae Christensen of Lebanon; grandchildren Leslie Scott of Boston, Mass., and Darcy Scott of Madras; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by three brothers, Lawrence Surmon who died in infancy, Lester Surmon and E. Lee Surmon.

A viewing will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Huston-Jost Funeral Home. A funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Lebanon First Assembly of God. Private burial will be at the Lebanon I.O.O.F. Cemetery. Online condolences for the family can be left at www.hustonjost.com.

Contributions may be made to East Linn Christian Academy or to the Christian charity of the donor's choice in care of Huston-Jost Funeral Home, 86 W. Grant St., Lebanon, OR 97355.