February 22, 1938 ~ Tuesday, July 9, 2019
Joseph Adam Scott Jr., 81, of Lake Lotawana, Missouri, passed away Tuesday, July 9, 2019. Funeral services will be on Monday, July 15th at Lake Lotawana Community United Methodist Church, with visitation at 10:00 a.m. and funeral at 11:00 a.m.
Graveside services will be held at 3:00 p.m. in Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Higginsville, MO. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the NRA or your favorite charity in Joe’s honor.
Joe was born February 22, 1938, in Robinson, Kansas, to Joseph Adam Sr. and Veva Bernice (Potter) Scott. He liked to change his name around depending on his comfort level and was called, Joe, Jay, Joseph, Scott, Scottie, or Scott the Gunman. Joe graduated in 1955 from Troy High School in Troy, KS. While attending high school, he worked at the Weekly Kansas Chief Newspaper, sometimes skipping school to work there.
Joe earned his Associate’s Degree at Longview Community College and then went on to Park College where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration in 1975. He had many training opportunities while serving in the Navy. He was extremely proud of completing his training at the Navy Nuclear Power School in Vallejo, CA, and Idaho Falls, ID, and the Vietnamese Language School. Joe attempted to join the Navy at the age of 17, but was denied entry until after his 18th birthday. He served in the Navy during the Cuban Crisis and the Vietnam War. Joe is a plaque owner of the USS Enterprise, meaning he was on the ship during its maiden voyage. He was a nuclear reactor operator on the Enterprise, the first nuclear powered ship. He was injured in Vietnam and was disabled during his third enlistment while serving there. During his Navy career, Joe was a Nuclear Reactor Operator, Machinist Mate, and Petty Officer First Class. During that time, he was also a Gunsmith in Newport News, VA, and Currituck, NC. He also worked in the Philadelphia US Navy Shipyard at the Ships Engineering Center.
Joe’s career included various other jobs. He worked as a tech for Sears, owned his own heating and air conditioning business with Bud Hull, as well as being a teacher at Longview College, and teaching gunsmithing classes out of his home. He was also sole owner of his Scott the Gunman Gunsmithing and Gun Parts business at Lake Lotawana for many years, building custom guns, as well as selling obsolete parts and repairing guns of various types. Joe really enjoyed restoring antique guns but would never repair a gun if that repair would decrease the value of said gun. He had trouble remembering people, but if you mentioned a gun he worked on, he would remember the gun. His restorations of guns lead him to the restoration of antique furniture, which he did mainly as acts of love for his family.
Joe served as a Director on the Lake Lotawana Association Board for over 16 year, his last term of office ending in 2016. He was a member of the Missouri Valley Arm Collectors Association, Western Missouri Shooters Alliance, National Rifle Association, the VFW, and the DAV.
He was most proud of his 38 years of sobriety in AA and his involvement with others that he met while working his program, one day at a time. He sponsored many others in the program, mentoring them, and becoming lifelong friends with many of them. Joe was extremely proud of being friends with Larry Barnthson of Troy, KS, and Phil Benitz of Wathena, KS since childhood and they all shared his interest in firearms.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Joseph Adam Scott III; and two sisters, Mary Scott Vertin and Cleobel (Scottie) Scott Farber.
He is survived by his wife, Ginger Scott of the home; his daughter, Laura Scott Campbell (Paul) of Bates City, MO; two grandchildren, Joseph and Mahala Campbell; his sister, Beverly (Scottie) Scott Chambers of Savannah, MO; as well as many nieces and nephews.
Arrangements: Royer Funeral Home, Oak Grove, MO 816-690-4441
