The Fence Post obituary: Ronald Douglas Scott
Ronald Douglas Scott, 75
March 26, 1943 – Jan. 16, 2019
Gillette, Wyo.
Ronald Douglas Scott, 75, went home to be with the Lord on Jan. 16, 2019.
Memorial and celebration of life services were held in Arizona on Feb. 9 at Heart Cry Church, 9339 W. Hunt Highway, Queen Creek, Ariz., and services in Wyoming will be held at 2 p.m., March 8, at the Mount Pisgah Cemetery Chapel, 804 S. Emerson Ave. in Gillette.
Doug, as he was known to his family and friends, passed away at Hospice of the Valley Friendship Village in Tempe, Ariz., following a brief, heroic battle with cancer.
Doug was born March 26, 1943, in Gillette to Harold and Bertha Jane Scott.
He grew up with his four siblings on the Scott family ranch just northwest of Gillette, which recently celebrated 100 years of operation.
As the youngest of five children, he was the last to attend a small, country school just 2 miles from the ranch. He later graduated from Campbell County High School in Gillette.
He attended college in Casper and Colorado State University. All through high school, college and for several years after, he rodeoed, participating in calf roping, team roping, saddle bronc and bull riding.
In 1964, he married Margaret Tanner and began his lifelong career as a saddlemaker, working in different saddle shops throughout Colorado, eventually opening his own shop in Jackson.
Throughout the years, he lived in numerous places, including Bondurant and Fort Collins, Colo.
In 1975, he married his beloved wife, Coni Janija, and they eventually made their home in Buffalo Gap, S.D., where they lived until her death in 1999.
Throughout his career, Doug and Coni traveled as saddle, tack and Western apparel reps, and owned a belt manufacturing business.
After Coni’s passing, he retired as a sales rep and set up saddlemaking full-time from their home in Buffalo Gap.
In recent years, he was presented with a unique opportunity from Circle Y Saddles to travel as a saddle and tack rep and be a part of its exclusive design team in Yokum, Texas.
In 2009, he moved to San Tan Valley, Ariz., and returned to his first love of saddlemaking. He recently opened a retail store in Queen Creek.
Doug belonged to the Western/English Sales Association and in 2008, had the honor of being named “Salesman of the Year.” He considered this, and his time as a board member with WESTtrust, as high points in his saddle industry career.
He always was very proud of his Western heritage and passionate about carrying this on through his craftsmanship. He felt very fortunate to do what he loved.
The saying, “he never met a stranger” could not be more true when said about him. He will always be remembered for his genuine personality, wonderful smile and contagious laughter.
He loved the Lord and lived out his faith with action, found prejudice with no one and naturally made each person he crossed paths with feel appreciated and important.
Doug is survived by brothers, Marion (Mary) Scott, and Jim Scott; sister, Kay Storms; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Coni; parents; brother, Bill Scott; nephew, Clay Scott; and niece, Cathy Morrison.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be considered in Doug’s memory to the following: AZ Cowboy Ministries, 1251 E. Steton Lane, Coolidge, AZ 85128; Heart Cry Church, P.O. Box 430, Queen Creek, AZ 85142; Western Endowment Trust (WESTrust), P.O. Box 1645, Eastlake, CO 80614; or Hospice of the Valley Friendship Village, 2525 E. Southern Ave., Tempe, AZ 85282.