Mary Michele Scott

Mary Michele Scott was born on June 26th, 1953 in Bakersfield, CA and passed away in Bakersfield on 12/13/2018. But her story doesn't just begin and end in Bakersfield. Mary - known to family as Michele [or, Aunt Sissy], served in the U. S. Army [1973 - 1975] as a Communications Specialist during the Vietnam era. She lived in Germany and various regions of the United States, from the Atlantic Seaboard to Texas. She had suffered through cancer and a divorce, then chose to live out her final 35yrs in Bakersfield, committed to taking care of our mother. She worked for several years for contractors of commodities/sundries at the Lerdo Detention Facility. In recent months she knew her health was failing and had made known her final plans to be interned in the Bakersfield National Military Cemetery. Although Michele's health was known to be declining, she passed away unexpectedly. Michele is survived by her younger brother, Matthew Scott (Deanna) and her sister, Diedra Gates, both from Bakersfield.

Born to Donald E. Scott and Lonnie J. Scott/Gates, in Bakersfield, California, meant long-hot summers playing in the sprinklers, and eating watermelon & swimming at Hart Park. Michele grew up with two younger sisters, an older brother and a younger brother. One time, Michele and her two brothers, all very young, got in trouble for putting her in a trash can and lighting a fire under it, because "we're going to the moon, like the astronauts!" She could fight, play baseball, build forts or curl up with a doll and twirl a baton. She loved climbing trees and catching honey bees in a jar for chasing her siblings and many cousins. She was the middle child with a big sister attitude' and she never tired of it. She grew up helping to raise her two younger sisters and they forever referred to her as their second mother. She started journaling with poetry in junior-high school during the Vietnam-war and the habit stayed with her all of her life.

Michele graduated from the University of Texas - El Paso [1983], with a Bachelor's Degree in the Sciences/Geology and had plans to create a career with a local oil company. Our Step-Dad had managed local oilfield leases, so growing up, Michele said she knew which industry had helped put "beans on the table." However, the recession would have forced her to work overseas, and she had begun fighting cancer - which nearly killed her. Michele earnestly prayed through it all and GOD directed her attention back home to join our mother. Michele loved her family, her friends her cats, and her poetry, but she loved JESUS most of all. She loved to tell of receiving JESUS in her life as a little girl of around four or five years of age. She never forgot the Blessing of walking through life as a rescued, loved and forgiven Child of God - She never took for granted God's Amazing Grace. She loved attending The Solid Rock Christian Coffee house and Bakersfield Chinese Church - when she could get out, and later, The Father's House, for a season, with our Mother.

Michele had a great sense of humor and an independent spirit that made her seem like a world-famous pioneer from yester-year, to those who knew her. She was quick to give you a piece of her mind if she felt like you needed it and just as quick to weep and pray with you, if confided in. She was twice a cancer survivor and spent a great deal of time riding on the Veteran's shuttle bus over the Grapevine to the Veteran's hospital in Los Angeles. She enjoyed talking with and praying for the many veterans she met. Michele enjoyed working in her yard with her flowers, watching re-runs of Sea Hunt, and reading. She never denied that she was a bit of a hermit and a home-body, but whenever you were around her, her humor and laughter was contagious. Michele will be greatly missed and was loved by all those who knew her, her many friends, cousins, nieces and nephews. She used to say, "Lord, thank you that I'm in my right mind today - because NO ONE knows what tomorrow may bring." She has passed on now to join her mother (Lonnie), and her sister (Lynice), older brother (Donald Jr.), two Dads (Donald Sr. & DW Gates)and all our precious loved ones who have passed on to Heaven; in my Father's house there are many mansions - JESUS (John 14). We can almost hear her now saying, " C- Ya, wouldn't wanna be ya - PEACE OUT!" So SHALOM, Dear Michele, you are loved and missed.