July 14, 2021
With heavy hearts we announce the passing of our Husband, Father, Grandpa, and Friend, George Wilby Scotter. George was a small-town boy from Cardston, Alberta. He valued hard work and furthering his education and life experiences. From a young age he loved the mountains and prairies of Western Canada. With degrees from Utah State University and the University of Alberta, he became a Canadian Wildlife biologist based in Edmonton and would have many experiences present-day adventurers would envy. He spent summers in Banff, Jasper, Waterton, Yoho, and Revelstoke National Parks. He flew in rickety planes into what would become Nahanni National Park and other Arctic regions studying caribou, reindeer, musk ox, and polar bears. Retiring to Kelowna he continued to champion the few remaining wild regions of the Okanagan Valley.
While attending Utah State University, George was smitten by a girl from another small town. Etta (Pace) Scotter grew up in Vernal, Utah. Impressed by her talents in Home Economics, George proposed to her, and after their marriage in 1960 she never wrote a monthly menu plan again. George and Etta traveled extensively and visited every continent except Antarctica.
George and Etta were exceptional parents to two children: Troy and Alicia. Although both children eventually lived in Utah, they have fond memories of Alberta and later visits to Kelowna. Grandsons, Joshua and Matthew, eventually showed up to help pick cherries and play canasta.
George appreciated the comfort and support he received from his many friends during health issues, Etta's struggles with Alzheimer's, and the damage to their home and property in the 2003 Kelowna fire.
On July 14th, George left us to explore a new mountain meadow. Should he find a new species of flower we are sure he will dedicate it to Etta. It is George's wish that his ashes be spread in a special area in the Okanagan that he loved.
George's family wishes to express their appreciation for his church friends, the good people and neighbors of Okaview and Bristol Gardens, and all the friends and family that George conned into hiking along with him or beat at bridge. Please remember him as you come across a flower that you have never seen before. George will be waiting to tell you its name.