Lewis (Lew) C. Scott, 72, passed away October 28, 2016, at his home in Springfield, MO. Lew was born March 1, 1944 in Santiago, Chile, of American parents. His father was an advertising executive who managed Latin American branch offices of various U.S.-based ad agencies. Lew completed elementary and high school in Mexico City, Mexico, after which he attended Texas Christian University in Ft. Worth, graduating in 1965 with a Journalism degree. In college, he was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha social fraternity.

Upon college graduation, Lew was granted an ROTC commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. During his eight-year Air Force tenure, he served as a public affairs officer at bases in the U.S. and the Philippines. As the Viet Nam conflict came to a close, Lew left the Air Force to begin a 20-year career with Southwestern Bell. He served in various management capacities in St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield-- primarily in the public relations, advertising and marketing areas--before retiring as District Manager in Springfield in 1993. In 1994, he was employed by Associated Electric Cooperative in Springfield as Marketing/Member Services Manager, and retired from that position in 2006.

During his years in Springfield, Lew was active in community affairs and served on the boards of several organizations including the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, Southwest Missouri Office on Aging, Discovery Center, March of Dimes, Wesley United Methodist Church, and the Public Relations Association of Springfield (now the local chapter of the Public Relations Society of America) of which he was founding president. He with the former Springfield Symphony Director Charles Bontrager are credited with conceptualizing and co-chairing Springfield’s first Firefall Independence Day Celebration in 1982.

Lew loved the outdoors, especially boating, fishing, camping and hunting. He was also an accomplished guitarist, landing his first professional job as a guitarist at age 15 with one of Mexico City’s early rock n’ roll bands. He went on to perform with various rock, folk and jazz groups, including the Springfield Community Jazz Ensemble, and the “SKUMS of the Pioneers,” an old-time country music group composed mostly of former Bell System/AT&T retirees who are members of the Telephone Pioneers of America, an international telephone industry civic and social organization. The SKUMS (Service Keeps Us Motivate Sometimes) entertain at area senior citizen centers, veterans’ organizations, church groups and family gatherings.

Lew is survived by his wife, Ruby, of 48 years; daughter Carie Scott-McGovern of Dallas and her husband, Shanti, and their three children, Ella, Annalise and Miles; and son Eric of St. Louis and his wife, Cathy, and their two sons Garrett and Colin. Also surviving are Lew’s sister, Cora Chavira, in Texas and a brother, Mike and his wife, Diane, in Arizona and their families.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in memory of Lew may be made to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation 302 Ridgefield Court, Asheville, NC 28806 www.curethekids.org/donate.

A celebration of Lew’s life will be held at Wesley United Methodist Church on Monday, October 31, 2016 at 2:00 p.m.