Florida Cremation Society
John Arthur Scott III, 88, passed away peacefully in Ocala on December 12 after a long illness. His wife of more than 60 years, Martha, was by his side. "Papa John" was born in Leesburg, FL on January 3, 1935 to Buck (J.A. Scott, Jr.) and Ruby Paulk Scott and spent his early years in the tiny village of Ocklawaha, FL. He enjoyed telling the story that just 13 days after he was brought home to Ocklawaha, the FBI raided and killed the notorious gangster Ma Barker and her son, Fred, less than a mile from where he lived at the time. In his youth he enjoyed the abundant fishing at Lake Weir and hunting the Ocala National Forest. His keen marksmanship is remembered for the turkey shoots he easily won as an adult. After moving to South Dakota, he further demonstrated his great sports talents. He was a four-year, four-sport letterman for Bennett County High School, excelling in football, basketball, baseball and track. Those accomplishments earned him a scholarship to South Dakota State University where he became the varsity punter for the Jackrabbits. In 1954 he joined the U.S. Air Force and was forever proud of his military service. Following language training in Monterey, CA, he was assigned to Germany as a Russian interpreter during the early days of the Cold War between the former USSR and the U.S. He enjoyed recounting one of his Top Secret tasks that involved interpreting an intercepted USSR communication that was sent directly to President Eisenhower -- though, true to his security clearance, he never revealed the details. He continued to demonstrate his athletic prowess in the military, being part of a traveling Air Force football team. Again as a punter, he was recognized on the All Air Force team, joining a number of former collegiate All-Americans in the prestigious group. After four years serving our country, he returned to civilian life and enrolled at Central Florida Junior College in Ocala on the GI Bill. Armed with his A.S. degree from CFJC, he became a lifelong Seminole, enrolling in the business school at Florida State. After graduating, he followed his Noles religiously, attending many football games when two of his children were at FSU. It was while working a summer job at Certified Grocers of Florida that he first met his future wife, Martha Fanelli Johnson, a young widowed mother of three. After their marriage on Flag Day in 1963, he often remarked over the years that he had married the woman of his dreams and gotten a ready-made family to boot.
He turned his summer job into a full-time position at Certified and a daughter would join the young family in 1964. A new job as Advertising Manager at Hackney Grocery Company in Lake City meant a family move and another daughter grew the family to seven. In his early thirties he once again demonstrated the athletic skills he had honed growing up. After a punting session in front of none other than the legendary Pat Summerall, a former kicker himself and already gaining fame as an NFL broadcaster, John was invited to a tryout by the Dallas Cowboys. To no one's surprise, he was offered a contract from the Cowboys despite being older than most on the team at the time. In those days punters and kickers weren't paid the gargantuan salaries they earn today, and he turned down the offer because he said he couldn't support his now large family on the income. During his career he was in the wholesale grocery business two different times, was a high school teacher, sold office equipment for Pitney-Bowes, owned one of the first quick lubes in Florida and eventually retired from the trucking industry. Papa John was deeply loved by those who survive, including his wife of 60 years, Martha, his brothers Jim and Tony (Diane), brother-in-law Philip Fanelli (Alice), children Vic Johnson (Lisa), Joel Johnson (Lisa), Milliann Johnson, Lorrie Blanchfield and Michelle Buttermore. He leaves 11 grandchildren, Lorchele Howard, Tyler Johnson (Savannah), Dione Clarkson, Victoria Johnson, Leah Carter, Marti Carter, Carter Johnson (Stephanie), Robby Blanchfield, Stephen Blanchfield, Randall Buttermore and Murphy Carter-Johnson; 20 great-grandchildren, Patricia Howard, Dylan Johnson, Tommy Strom, Hannah Gieselman, Mason Gieselman, Nathan Johnson, Nolan Johnson, Adrielle Howard, Piper Lewis, Ninah Lewis, Gabryla Tannock, Nathanyel Tannock, Torryn Carter, Andrew Callaway Jr., Addisyn Mattingly, Abel Mattingly, Sophia Palmerin, Annelise Johnson, Avi Palmerin and Jolie Rae Buttermore; one great-great-grandchild, Eden Tannock, and many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters-in-law Barbara (Cookie) Scott, Maxine Herndon and Mary Sue Fanelli, brothers-in-law Laurie Herndon and Gordon Fanelli, son-in-law Michael Carter, granddaughter Rachel Buttermore and great-grandson Austin Johnson. A Memorial Service and internment at Florida National Cemetery will be announced at a later time.
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