Scotty was born in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, on August 2, 1967. For his first three years, he lived with his mother, Brenda Kirby Whitaker, and his grandparents, John Henry and Tessie Mae. Wherever John Henry went, Scotty followed. Some of his favorite memories were playing in the orchard between their home and learning from the older generation that congregated at the country store that his grandfather owned in White Cross. Scotty always remembered the lessons that his grandparents taught him—most importantly, how to treat others with respect.

In 1989, Scotty graduated from Alamance Community College with an associate degree in criminal justice. He was employed with the Wake County Sheriff’s Office for 2.5 years but discovered that criminal justice was not for him. He moved back to White Cross, where his best friend, Kenny Stewart, introduced him to the fire service.

In 1996, Scotty started his first paid firefighting job with the Carrboro Fire Department. He worked in fire suppression until 2001, when he was promoted to lieutenant. In 2006, Scotty became assistant fire marshal of Orange County. In 2009, he became fire marshal for Columbus County, where he first tried boiled peanuts, collard greens, and hog liver and discovered that they are an “acquired taste.” In 2014, Scotty returned to the Triangle to be closer to his family. He served as an assistant fire marshal with the Durham Fire Department from 2014 until his death, performing routine and construction inspections and investigating numerous fires. Some of his biggest projects were the 18-story building in downtown Durham and the Amazon and FedEx distribution centers. Scotty held numerous fire service certifications and was often sought for his expertise. He was the City of Durham Firefighter of the Year (2016) and White Cross Firefighter of the Year (1995 and 2021). He was a member of the NCIAAI, NCICIE, and the NC Fire Marshals’ Association.

Some of Scotty’s favorite things were watching Clemson and East Carolina University play football, family gatherings, pizza with pepperoni and mushrooms, sitting on the beach with a cold beer, and teaching younger firefighters. He was the life of every party, with a beautiful smile that reached his blue eyes. A wonderful son, devoted father, and compassionate husband, he was welcoming, entertaining, kind, generous, and helpful. Scotty always let others know what he was thinking, through his words or simply “the look.”

On December 26, 2021, Scotty passed away after a short battle with cancer. He is survived by his mother, Brenda Kirby Whitaker; wife, Christy Haik; children, Austin Merritt and Anna Merritt; stepson, Heath Robbins; uncles, Raymond and Norman Kirby; aunts, Brenda and Gwen Kirby; and many cousins, some of whom he considered brothers.