Shirley Scott

Shirley May Scott, age 91, of Darwin, MN passed away at home on October 28, 2025. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at the Litchfield United Methodist Church at 2:00 PM. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. 

Shirley was born on January 19, 1934, to William and Hilda (Kyllonen) Paddock in Litchfield, MN. She received her education in Litchfield and graduated a member of the Class of 1952. On June 12, 1954 Shirley and Ellery Scott were united in marriage. Shirley was an active member of the NFO, Farmers Union, and Methodist Women’s Group. She was the Darwin Township fire warden for 22 years and part of the neighborhood Bible Study. Shirley worked at Northwestern Bell Telephone company as a switchboard operator. She owned and operated Scott Ceramic for 12 years, partnering with her husband, she owned and operated a Dairy Farm and Scott Excavating Business.

Those who visited Shirley would always be given a baked item and something to drink, from coffee to homemade wine. Shirley loved everything regarding arts and crafts; painting with chalk, oil, watercolors, and charcoal. She loved crocheting and made a multitude of Afghans, prayer shawls, and infant caps through her church. Shirley built her own dining room table, and loved spending time in her flower garden.

Shirley was a world traveler and had visited all 50 states along with all 10 provinces and 3 territories of Canada. She rode the North Dakota Historic Wagon Train five times with her children, grandchildren, and friends. Shirley also traveled across the world from Guam to China, France to Panama, to saving turtles in Costa Rica and she made several trips to sunny Mexico. She started riding horse at the age of 60.

Shirley’s farm was the place to be, especially in the summers where swimming in the pond, camping, motorcycling and paddle boating could be done. In her 80s, Shirley’s farm again became the meeting place for four wheeling, side-by-sides, grilling, bonfires, fireworks, and lots of trail building.

Shirley is survived by her children Steven Scott, John (Angela) Scott, Kathryn Nelson, Deanna (LeRoy) Pomraning, and Judy Scott; grandchildren Melody (Ria Newhouse) Scott, Crystal (Hugo) Ortiz, Brandon (Katherine) Scott, Stephanie (Frank) Hensley, Grant Pomraning, Amber (Jay) Kleinjan, Andrew Nelson, Kasey (Josh) Butterfield, Rebecca (Josiah) Scotterman and Brett Scott; great-grandchildren Maura and Elon Scott, Joe and Laura Hensley, Maci (Eric) Hansen, Isaac Ortiz, Luke and Abigal Scott, Hazel, Teal, Pearl and Ivy Kleinjan; and brother Joe Paddock.

She is preceded in death by her husband Ellery; parents William and Hilda; brother Roger Paddock; children Vicki Scott and Kerry Hauk; son-in-law Wesley Nelson; grandson James Scott; and great-grandchild Elena Ortiz.