Scott was born on January 4‚ 1983‚ in Portland Oregon. At a young age‚ Scott loved the game of ice hockey. One of his family’s favorite memories is of him playing hockey in the basement as a child. It would sound like a real game going with the banging‚ hollering and the ref’s whistle blowing. There was play-by-play action – and he scooores! But it was a one-man game and lots of imagination. At age five‚ Scott joined a hockey team‚ and it was a passion in his life until he died. You could count on his hockey bag always being in the trunk of his car.
As Scott grew‚ his love for sports grew with him. His favorite teams were the San Francisco 49ers‚ Portland Trailblazers‚ Atlanta Braves‚ Pittsburgh Penguins and the University of Oregon Ducks. Being wise to know he would not make it into pro sports‚ he decided he wanted to become a sports journalist‚ and he pursued this dream at Southern Oregon University. He had one year left to get his degree. He took to wildland firefighting with Grayback Forestry to earn money for his school expenses.
Scott’s parents were visiting him when he was called to his first fire. They took him to the shop‚ and his mom asked him to give her an early Christmas present. She asked him to call each evening when he got in to base camp so his family would know he was safe and could hear about his day. Scott faithfully gave that gift until August 5‚ 2008‚ when after being in a spike camp for three days‚ the helicopter that was carrying his crew back to base camp crashed‚ killing nine people.
Scott was a very caring and loyal friend with a great laugh. When asked how he was doing‚ he would often answer‚ ‘Just living the dream.’ He had the unique ability to have a good balance of work and responsibility along with pleasure and humor. When his crew boss was asked what he remembered about Scott‚ he said‚ ‘Scott was never grouchy. Usually about the 10th day out on a fire people begin to get a bit gnarly‚ but not Scott. I never heard a bad word out of his mouth.’
Scott loved his parents and brother‚ Jake‚ and was always there to do his part in keeping his family close. He was very comfortable with who he was in this world‚ largely because he knew the God that created him. He did not ‘play church‚’ but had firm convictions regarding his relationship with God. He knew John 3:16 included him. He will never be forgotten.
Today I was looking through Legacy.com because I had just learned of a friends death. I decided to look up Scott’s name because I had not done so for some time. While obituaries are usually archived someone paid for Scott’s (and I believe the other men also that were killed at the same time) a fee so they would never be archived. I am grateful, Today I found this note from a little over a year ago. I wish I would have found it sooner. Cameron – if you happen to read this thank you so much for your thoughtfulness. Such a treasure.
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I never had the chance to meet Scotty, but I am an SOU Lacrosse player who is about to enter his senior year, and this summer I will be my first season fighting wild fire for Grayback Forestry. For years I have heard Mark Brown tell us about the heart and soul of our team, and how he gave everything he had to our program. My first day of training with Grayback, I saw Scottys picture mounted on the wall in the office, and I just stood there looking up at him, letting him know he is my inspiration every day.
I want your family to know I am fighting fires this summer with Scottys number, 43, written on my line pack. I hope I can do a good job continuing his legacy out there this summer, and next school year on the lacrosse field. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers.
Dearest regards,
– Nina L CharlsonCameron Makiling
I will always remember Scott as the guy who drew me, a clueless foreign exchange student from France at SOU, in his NCAA bet bracket. We also went in his cool car to a sport bar to see the NCAA ’07 final. It was so nice to share a typical american/college time with a guy so keen on sport. After having a couple of shots and played some pool games, we watched the game and discussed basketball and Joachim Noah. A very simple time, but a nontheless true life-lasting memory of my experience in Oregon.
With him, I never felt left aside for being “just” an other exchange student and it was really heatwarming to befriend him, a guy who had this gift and this passion for sport journalism.
– Nina L CharlsonMay you rest nestled in God’s arms, thank you doesn’t seem to be enough for the ultimate sacrifice you gave being a brave firefighter. Play hockey in the heavens young man! God bless you and the others that perished along side you on that fateful day.
– Gloria ButlerHard to believe it’s been over a decade now since Scott passed. I had basketball class with Scott at Southern and would drive him home after. I always enjoyed our talks about the blazers those days. Once I left my shoes on top of my car and drove off. Thankfully someone waved me down, but I thought Scott would never stop laughing at me over that. He is still and will always be missed!!
– Jeff HallMy thoughts drifted to Scott today. I can’t believe he’s gone still. I had journalism classes with him, we interned at the SOU athletic department together, and spent many a night hanging out with friends and enjoying being young and carefree. I will never forget his laugh. We talked Blazers and Ducks, and watched Portland draft Greg Oden together. I hope his family is finding peace and connection in his absence. We will miss him forever.
– Jake Hastings