Liane Carol Scott

On July 12, 2023, after a short illness, Liane Carol Scott passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones. Liane was born in Centerville, Iowa on July 11, 1940 to Carl and Marjorie Jones of Cincinnati, Iowa. She was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Marjorie Jones, and husband Robert C. Scott.

Liane was born and grew up in the small mining and farming community of Cincinnati, Iowa surrounded by ‘salt of the earth’ family including aunts, uncles and she was especially close to her grandparents. She shared many endearing, and some perhaps not so endearing, stories regarding her youth and the amount of daily work that was required by living on a farm while her parents held other side jobs or ran another business. The daily chores consisted of gathering eggs, milking cows, separating the cream, learning to, and then cooking for the family, canning the harvest and of course, taking care of younger siblings, cousins and other family members were a constant. These life experiences became our matriarch’s lessons and values that she instilled in her family.

This family is blessed to have a long line of wise and strong matriarchs. Liane most assuredly was our current matriarch. As such she related many stories that conveyed the strength and teachings of her grandmothers, Nitha Jones and Etta Allison. She was taught, and valued, how to nurture family and friends, as well as and how to serve her community. Those silent, and sometimes not so silent, lessons she passed on, and taught through example to the family children, included the importance of education and knowledge, how to work without complaint and how to take pride in that work, are our family’s resilient lessons taught throughout the generations.

Community and being involved in the community she lived in was a significant value lesson that she took pride in passing along. This was established long ago by her family’s involvement with various church and Masonic organizations which led to her membership in Eastern Star and her children serving in Rainbow and DeMolay. She was also a very proud 65-year member of P.E.O and founding member and past president of the local chapter.

Liane’s community dedication continued over the years to include assisting in the local Lompoc Flower Festival celebration with her best friend, Beverly Tootle.

Education had always been valuable to her. It could be a trade school, or a Doctorate degree, it did not matter. This was evident from an early age when she graduated at 16 and was the valedictorian of her graduating high school class. Educating and providing young women an opportunity for an education were a core life passion for Liane as it was for all previous family matriarchs. Liane went on to graduate from Cottey College, a private women’s college associated with P.E.O, a Philanthropic Educational Organization for women her mother belonged to. Liane's passion had her serve continuously in that organization for more than half a century. She was pleased several other women in the family joined this organization to support women over the years.

As education was a core lesson to her family, she never had to push but was always encouraging and delighted with her children and grandchildren and all their various pursuits at various levels of education. Recently, she was ever so proud of her granddaughter Zoe Scott graduating with honors from Idaho State University and was constantly amazed at the adventurous nature of another granddaughter, Annika Scott who is currently a Cow (Junior) at West Point.

After graduating from college, in fact that very afternoon, Liane married Robert Scott in the Cottey school chapel. She and Robert lived in St. Louis, Boston and eventually Coco Beach Florida where Bob worked for NASA during the Apollo and earlier space missions in the 60’s. They welcomed all three of their children, Barbara, Marcia and Clark while in Florida. They witnessed successes and failures of the early space race to the moon, and experienced the perilous crisis of the Cuban Missile Crisis. In 1968, they moved their family from Florida across the country to Lompoc, California where Bob continued his work with the space industry until his death in 1980. During the early seventies Liane, never one to be idle, got a job in the Treasury Department for the City of Lompoc and eventually she became Lompoc City Treasurer, serving for 30 years. During this time, she was elected and served her term as President of the California Certified Treasurer Association. Liane loved the challenges of her job and all of the people she worked with over the years. She was grateful to travel the State as well as visit a sister city in Inca, Spain while working for the city.

Liane had a quiet confidence about her. A confidence, and perhaps grace, that comes from a strong will and unquestionably hard fought battles won and lost over the years. She could sit and listen and seemly not show judgment or opinion until asked for it. But rest assured, she had an opinion. She knew how to hold a confidence and be the silent champion to those in need. Yet, despite difference of any opinion, there was always love. This, she undoubtedly mastered.

Love can be shown in various forms, this is true. Yet, Liane was a classic woman and her demonstration of love was undoubtedly expressed with food. An expression that her family and loved ones cherished to receive and, through her teaching and example, several have found that same expression of love and concern to give to others. One example of her love, was shown every Christmas for decades, as she cooked the candies and cookies made by her parents during the holidays and generously added her own specialties over the years. Thankfully her son, Clark and his wife Jill, and their children Zoe and Annika have taken on the tradition of the goodies and have continued to bless family and friends with these cherished goodies as the last few years have been just too hard to complete this loving task.

Along with the goodie package, a new and unique Christmas ornament was welcomed. They were the first gift of the season for not only her children, but siblings, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and grand-niece and nephews. The list was long and just like Santa, she had to check it twice for accuracy. Ornaments were carefully thought out, typically one of kind, and ranged from simply beautiful to themed, bringing forth an outright burst of laughter from the receiver exclaiming, “How did you find this! It’s perfect.” Over the last several years, the hunt was helped along with her niece, Alison helping out by doing the internet searches for these treasures.

For many years Liane loved to play Monday night bridge with her friends. She even traveled to Alaska with some of those friends after her retirement. She loved and cared for her friends. Her best friend, Beverly and her husband Richard (Dick) Tootle were important and close to her and the children growing up. Especially after her husband Robert (Bob) died.

The last few years, she loved listening to the local police scanner while browsing through cookbooks or magazines. She was always on the hunt for the next great recipe for the next meal shared with family and friends. There were many dinners and moments of laughter and loving support. She taught us well and while her lessons are in us, we will miss her greatly.

Liane is survived by her children, Barbara (Gene) Pritchett of Lompoc. Marcia Scott of Castro Valley, Clark (Jill) Scott of Idaho Falls. Grandchildren, Christopher (Mandy) Pritchett of Lompoc. Danielle (Nolan) Coolidge of Bettendorf, Iowa. Zoe Scott of Idaho Falls. Annika Scott of West Point, NY. Great-grandchildren, Killian and Blake Coolidge of Bettendorf Iowa. Her sister, Lynetta Wales of Centerville, Iowa and brother, Dwight Jones, also from Centerville, Iowa. She is also survived by several loving nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.

Liane loved a High Tea. The family will be honoring her memory with an open house memorial tea held at her daughter Barbara’s house on August 19th from 11 – 3 pm at 175 Oakmont Avenue. They family looks forward to family and friends dropping in that day and enjoying some of Liane's favorite tea sandwiches and salads from the Tea Buffet.

A memorial has been established to the P.E.O Jean Martin Memorial Scholarship. Donations can be sent to Chapter SQ P.E.O. at 303 East Locust, Lompoc Ca. 93436. Or, dropped off at the day of the memorial tea.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.neptunesociety.com/location/santa-barbara-cremation for the Scott family.