Gaye L. Scott, 76, of Mason City went to be with her Lord and Savior on August 30, 2025 at Heritage Care Center.
Gaye Lorraine Ostlund was born January 31, 1949 at Lake City, Iowa to Donald and Frances (Lorraine) Ostlund of Lohrville, Iowa. She was the oldest of 3 children. Her first years were lived in Lohrville, Clarion, and Mason City until the family moved to Manly, Iowa in 1952. Gaye was baptized in December 1960 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Manly. Her deep faith in God was a gift that sustained her throughout her life, especially during her many health challenges.
After graduating from North Central High School in Manly in 1967, Gaye attended Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa for 4 years, majoring in French with a minor in English. She loved playing in the percussion section of the Wartburg Concert Band and belonged to the French Club. In her senior year she studied for 2 months in France and was able to travel for 2 weeks in England and Scotland. After graduating from Wartburg College in 1971 Gaye taught French and English in Manilla, Iowa for one year and in Titonka, Iowa for 4 years. In 1974 she made another 2 month trip to France.
Gaye was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1975, which became a lifelong battle for her. She left teaching and moved to Clear Lake, Iowa and started working for Zion Lutheran Church in 1976 as office secretary. She later assumed bookkeeping duties and then became Director of Specialized Ministries, working with Senior Adults, Women’s Ministries, and Visitation Groups. The opportunities to work with people and programs were some of her greatest joys.
During her first year at Zion, Gaye met the love of her life – Dick Scott. Dick had 2 sons from a previous marriage – Richard Jr. and Stephen. Gaye and Dick were united in marriage at Zion on July 9, 1977. Dick became a part-time Lay Assistant, and Gaye volunteered to teach children’s and adult Sunday School and served as a Bible Study leader.
During their marriage Gaye and Dick enjoyed going to concerts (Gaye played cymbals for several years with the Clear Lake Municipal Band), taking short trips, visiting Gaye’s grandmother in Verndale, MN, and especially vacationing in Branson, Missouri – their favorite vacation spot. Both Gaye and Dick cherished God’s “special gifts” – their pets – which included 2 parakeets, dog Charlie, and cats Katie and Gracie.
As Alzheimer’s began taking control of Dick’s life, Dick’s working career ended. Gaye left Zion in 2010 and began working as part time office secretary for Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Mason City. She and Dick became members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Mason City in February 2011. After Dick eventually became a resident of IOOF Home in Mason City, Gaye sold their home in Clear Lake and moved to Mason City in the summer of 2012 to be closer to work and to Dick. Dick died November 11, 2012.
Gaye loved the people at Our Saviour’s and preached there several times. As a member of Trinity, she served as Bible Study leader for the Altar Guild, brought communion to shut-ins, served as occasional lay reader, and prayed for members on the weekly Prayer List. She retired from Our Saviour’s in November 2015 and began in-home kidney dialysis the following week. She was put on the waiting list for a kidney transplant. During this time she made numerous trips to Des Moines with her friend Judy Brunsvold, where her condition was being monitored.
On the morning of April 19, 2018 Gaye got THE CALL – a kidney was available! Her sister Meda drove her to the hospital in Des Moines and around midnight Meda was informed by the surgeon that the surgery was complete. We all had high hopes and Gaye said, “I am grateful for every day I have away from dialysis.”
Gaye moved to the Village Co-op in Mason City in the fall of 2018. While there she enjoyed the weekly Current Events discussion groups, bingo nights, monthly pot lucks, and most of all getting to know the other residents and a few of their furry companions. One of Gaye’s greatest pleasures the last few years was eating out with family or friends. The joke was that she was barely done eating when she would ask, “So where are we eating out next week?”
Unfortunately, just a few years into her transplant, problems developed. Her body’s BK virus started attacking her kidney and Gaye’s health continued to decline as her kidney function worsened and caused other health problems to develop. She began losing her sight in November 2024 and was legally blind within 3 weeks. Going blind was especially hard on Gaye as she had been an avid reader all her life.
Gaye chose to enter Heritage Care Center in August 2025. She was especially thankful to her close friends at the Co-op for all their help during her last few years, and to all the aides and nurses at Heritage who took care of her. And a special Thank You to her very close friend Judy Brunsvold for all her help, and to her sister Meda. Gaye was a kind, caring, compassionate woman and never let her faith be diminished throughout her many struggles. She will be truly missed by all who knew her.
Gaye was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Richard Scott Sr., several aunts, uncles, cousins, and her brother John Ostlund of Green Valley, AZ. She is survived by her sister Meda Ostlund of Mason City, sister in-law Charlene Ostlund of Green Valley, AZ, stepsons Richard Scott Jr. and Stephen Scott, stepgrandson Justin Scott, and great grandchildren Adler, Olive, and Griffin Scott of Mason City.
Gaye is now Forever in God’s Care!
All obituary information has been taken from the funeral home, newspaper or other online resource.
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