Anne Elizabeth Scott’s Life Story

Anne Elizabeth (Erkenbeck) Scott was born February 20, 1942 in Syracuse, NY to Donald Sanford & Ida Mae (Rant) Erkenbeck, the oldest of 5 children: Anne, Donald Jr., Thomas, James, & Edward. Anne was raised on a farm and some of her best memories were playing on the farm, helping with chores on the farm, such as driving the tractor collecting hay, grooming her cows, and taking her animals to the NY State Fair. Tragedy struck Anne when her brother Don died at the age of 12. Caring for Don is one of her fondest memories. When Anne was 17, her father was killed in a tractor accident, and at age 19, her mother died from breast cancer. Her brother James, U.S. military Vietnam veteran, died in 2006.

At a young age, Anne aspired to be a nurse and at age 15 became a nurse aid. She received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Keuka (Q-Kuh) College where she graduated with honors. She was married to James David Scott on August 3, 1963. The young couple soon moved to Indiana and later to Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. They took upon the responsibility of raising Anne’s young brothers with the death of her parents, as well as starting their own family. Donald Mark & Michael James were born August 2, 1967 and John Wesley on January 16, 1970. Anne was very involved in her sons hockey and motocross interests. In 1983, the family moved to Englewood, CO where Anne and James were ultimately divorced. Anne’s motivation and drive led her to taking on multiple jobs to provide for her three teenage boys.

In 2003, Anne learned she had breast cancer. She was a fighter and persevered through aggressive treatment. Then in 2007, Anne learned she had ovarian cancer. This ended her lifelong career in nursing, but allowed her to spend more time with her sons and grandchildren. She briefly moved to Castle Rock, CO with her son Mike, and then on to Olathe, KS with her son John & family. Again, Anne fought cancer, but ultimately lost her valiant fight with cancer on February 27, 2010.

Anne cared for many throughout her career as a dedicated nurse, mother, grandmother and friend. She touched many people through her church(s) and her pursuit of God. In addition to God and nursing, Anne was an avid stamp collector. She enjoyed good food: chocolate, ice cream, and Italian food, particularly spaghetti and lasagna. She enjoyed her bible study classes, gardening, quilting, jigsaw puzzles, nature (she never tired of seeing the deer, turkey, birds and raccoons in the backyard), walking, her cats, and a good football game. She enjoyed taking nature walks with her grandchildren and collecting leaves and pinecones. Anne was a motivated, energetic, driven, and honest person who enjoyed seeing her children happy and providing for her children.

We will all miss Anne, but now she is at peace in the place God has prepared for her. She continues her caregiving as an angel watching over us all.

Survivors include three sons: Donald Mark (Erin) Scott and Michael James Scott, both of Castle Rock, CO and John Wesley (Christine) Scott of Olathe, KS; two brothers, Tomas (Sue) Erkenbeck, Syracuse, NY, and Edward Erkenbeck, Houston, TX; and grandchildren: Jeramiah, Peyton, Rebecca and Katelin.

Memorial services will be held at Olathe Christian Church, Olathe, KS on March 6, 2010 at 2 p.m. and Southeast Christian Church, Castle Rock, CO on March 13 at 11 a.m.. Burial is planned in April in Syracuse with her parents.

(In lieu of flowers the family asks that you send contributions to benefit patient care at The University of Kansas Cancer Center.  Please make checks payable to KU Endowment and mail them to 2330 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Westwood, KS  66205. Online at www.kuendowment.org/givenow)

Authors: John & Christine Scott, March 2, 2010