Scott Kelley Gomes, AKA “Chops,” was born and raised in Santa Maria, California. He was a beautiful baby with beautiful eyes and lashes. He attended local elementary schools, local junior high schools, and graduated from Santa Maria High School in 1987.

After graduation from SMHS, he went to Allan Hancock College, graduated from the fire academy, and found his calling in life. He took a job with the USFS and knew instantly that the fire service was in his blood. He was hired by CAL FIRE and found his fire home. Scott wore many different hats with CAL FIRE, including EMT, firefighter, engineer, fire captain and trainer. Being a trainer was his favorite position ever.

His legacy with the fire department was playing an instrumental role in the start of a program with the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, also known as ARC, a program that gives opportunity to previously incarcerated individuals. Many of his students credit their lives now to what Captain Gomes showed them, taught them, and instilled in them. His quote to his students, sons, and young people that he coached and mentored was, “Never stop chasing your dreams, because one day you might cut them.” He never stopped giving of himself, still mentoring and guiding his students even after retirement.

Scott enjoyed the outdoors, fishing, hunting when he could, but his true love was baseball. He coached and was a huge fan at all levels. He and his wife, Esther Gomes, especially loved watching their four sons play. He loved life and never met a stranger. His joy was giving back to the community that he grew up in.

He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Esther; his first-born son and best friend, Cameron Kelley; his second-born son and best friend, Carson Scott; our adopted sons and his best friends, Samuel Lewis Calder and Zachary Aiden Silva; as well as many other family members, friends, and brothers and sisters of the fire department.