C. Larrie Scott

Charles “Larrie” Scott, 87, died on March 18, 2024, at Pioneer Ridge Health and Rehab Center, Lawrence, after a brief illness.

Visitation is scheduled from 6-8:00 p.m. on Monday, March 25, at Warren McElwain Mortuary, 120 W 13th, Lawrence. A memorial celebration will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, 2415 Clinton Pkwy, Lawrence, at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 26, 2024.

Larrie was born July 9, 1936, in Marionville, Mo., the son of Charles Edward Scott and Clara ”Louise” Schiermeyer Scott. Larrie graduated from Caldwell High School in 1954, Southwestern College in 1960, and Pittsburg State University in 1971.

He married Brilla Ann Highfill on August 23, 1957, in Winfield. They celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary last summer. 

Following high school graduation, Larrie worked on the production line at Coleman Company, Wichita. He served in the Kansas National Guard from 1960 to 1966 and taught driver education at Winfield High School from 1961 to 1966.

Larrie taught basic auto mechanics, coordinated student/adult driver education programs, and taught motorcycle safety at Lawrence High School from 1966 to 1998.

He served as president of the Kansas Driver Safety Education Association and president of the Lawrence Teachers Credit Union. Larrie was named Kansas Outstanding Driver Education Teacher in 1983.

Following his retirement in 1998, Larrie drove the courtesy van for Dale Willey Automotive for 12 years.

He created numerous projects with his scroll saw and was an avid reader of mystery novels. Larrie joined his son and daughter-in-law in building their two-story home in rural Lawrence. In their retirement, the Scotts traveled to 13 countries in addition to Alaska and Hawaii. 

Survivors include his wife, Brilla Highfill Scott, Lawrence; daughter-in-law, Diane Cole Scott, rural Lawrence; four grandchildren, Faryle Scott (Jared) Barthuly, Lenexa; Colter Scott, Topeka; Calihan Scott (Caylor) Norris, Tonganoxie; and Brogan Scott, rural Lawrence; three great grandchildren: Reese Ramiro Rosales, Porter Jolee Norris, and Sutton Wayne Norris; his sister, Carra Scott Gillespie, Wichita, and niece and nephews.

Preceding him in death were his parents, his only child, Eric Edward Scott, who died in December 2016; and brothers: Bill Edward Scott and Phillip “Kent” Scott.

IIn lieu of flowers, memorials can be donated to the Lawrence Schools Foundation, 110 McDonald Dr, Lawrence, Ks 66044 or may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.

27 Condolences

  1. Dee Unger on March 20, 2024 at 12:20 pm

    So sorry for your loss. My deepest sympathy.



  2. Deb Harrington on March 20, 2024 at 3:09 pm

    I am so sorry for your loss. I loved working at Lawrence High with Larrie and all the Winfield connections.



  3. David and Nancy Lahm on March 20, 2024 at 3:19 pm

    We are saddened to hear this. Brilla you are in our thoughts and prayers ❤️



  4. Steven Wolcott on March 20, 2024 at 3:25 pm

    So sorry for your loss. My father, Archie Wolcott, loved teaching driver’s ed with Larrie (and Bennie Stewart and the rest of that group).



  5. Tamara (Tammy) Biggerstaff Wilkerson on March 20, 2024 at 5:21 pm

    Laurie was my range instructor when I took my driver’s education class at Lawrence High. He was a great teacher and always made the class fun. Then, both Brilla and Larrie were parent sponsors when the marching band went to Portland, Oregon in June 1979. And, Brilla was my parent sponsor during the trip. My thoughts and prayers are with the family.



  6. susan c turrentine on March 20, 2024 at 5:45 pm

    So sorry to hear of his passing. I had him for Drivers Ed in the summer of 1990. I had never driven before or even sat in the drivers seat and was scared to death. He made it not so scary. He will be missed.



  7. Ed Steele on March 20, 2024 at 5:49 pm

    Sorry for your loss, I had Larrie in shop class in school. I learned alot from him he was a great teacher, I ran into him several times while was at the post office while he drove for DaleWilley. Great guy



  8. Doree Ward on March 20, 2024 at 7:15 pm

    So very sorry for your loss. He touched many lives and will be greatly missed, but, he will be remembered fondly, and those memories will bring many, many smiles to many, many faces. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.



  9. David Crisp on March 20, 2024 at 8:28 pm

    Condolences to the family. Mr. Scott was my auto mechanics teacher and drivers Ed instructor. I always enjoyed his class and drivers Ed was what every person gained from. Some 45 years after his classes I still and forever will remember one of his famous quotes. There was a classmate the was complaining that he wasn’t fair, to which he replied, “ Show me on your birth certificate where is says life is fair”. He was a great educator and person. Rest in peace Mr. Scott



  10. Melody McKenzie on March 21, 2024 at 1:56 am

    Mr. Scott was I and my mother’s motorcycle driver’s ed teacher. He was such a kind and gentle man. Always reminding us to be safe and stay safe.
    Always, reminding us, you got this. He really loved his job and did it well.
    My condolences to his family.
    He will always be remembered.
    🌻🦋🦋🦋🦋🕊️🦋🦋🦋🦋🌻



  11. Eilene M Lawrence on March 21, 2024 at 9:30 am

    Brilla I send my deepest sympathy to you. Losing a beloved partner after sixty-five years must be so painful. I will be thinking of you so frequently in the coming days.



  12. Kent Fisher on March 21, 2024 at 9:36 am

    I was saddened to hear the news of your loss, Brilla. I first knew Larrie…or “Mr. Scott” as we youngsters referred to him…as a LHS teacher and driving instructor. Then later in life got to know him well through Dale Willey. He was truly a gentleman and will be missed. I am thinking of you, Brilla, and sending thoughts and prayers.



  13. Duane LaFrenz on March 21, 2024 at 7:08 pm

    My condolences to the family. I remember Mr. Scott as a teacher in auto tech. And drivers Education. Rest in peace Mr. Scott.



  14. Betty and Mark Currie on March 21, 2024 at 8:07 pm

    We were sad to hear of the passing of Larrie. We knew him from school as well as out of school. Larrie was a genuine man of character, honest, helpful, willing to share his talents of making wooden ornaments with his scroll saw, and excellent teacher. He was friendly to everyone. Larrie taught me how to drive a car with a stick-shift in a less than an hour when everyone else had failed to teach me in my teen and adult years. He was one of the most patient and calm teachers. Larrie was highly respected by the staff at LHS and it was a pleasure to be a colleague with him. We are sad for the loss of Larrie for Brilla and the rest of his family. Our prayers and thoughts are with you all at this difficult time in your lives. May God wrap his loving arms around you all as you grieve the loss of Larrie on this earth. Peace and comfort to you all.



  15. Carra Gillespie on March 21, 2024 at 9:17 pm

    I knew this wonderful guy all my life…he was my brother… I have a pillow he gave me years ago..it says “I smile because you are my sister…I laugh because there is nothing you can do about it ” and brother dear I would never do anything about it…Love my sweet sis-in-law and the crew of grand kids who know me as aunt Griz…



  16. Lloyd and Lisa Gunn on March 22, 2024 at 1:24 pm

    Larrie will be missed. He was such an inspiration to so many.



  17. Mimi Woolery Baba on March 22, 2024 at 2:03 pm

    I can’t add anything but “ditto” to the many memories except his famous quote “no such thing as a stupid question”. Rest in peace 🕊️.



  18. Tracy Dethloff on March 23, 2024 at 9:37 am

    I had Mr. Scott as a driving instructor in 1975. The Rolling Stones came to KC that summer and I told Mr. Scott I`D be missing class that day. He told me he would fail me if I missed. He didn’t. Must not have been a Stones fun but a great teacher. Thank you Mr. Scott. I still tell this story.



  19. Joe and Eileen Cummings on March 24, 2024 at 10:45 am

    What a wonderful example for his students and a loving husband, father, and grandfather! It was an honor that his footsteps crossed our lives! May the Lord Jesus cradle you in His arms and carry you thru the days ahead! Karrie’s love will keep you all blessed! In Christ’s Comforting Love, Joe and Eileen Cummings.



  20. Mary Whitaker Davidson on March 25, 2024 at 7:39 am

    Mr. Scott was my driver’s education teacher years ago. After reading all of these comments, I believe we have a lot of good drivers from Lawrence Kansas as everyone is praising his teaching skills. I have to repeat that he was an excellent teacher. He was calm, funny, serious, and engaging. My prayers are with your family. Thank you for sharing such a great man with so many people!



  21. Larry McPherson on March 25, 2024 at 8:53 am

    Larry was a great friend and I enjoyed working with him in the Driver Ed program at Lawrence High School for several summers.
    He was a leader in that field and taught me many things while working with him.
    I enjoyed talking to him about the scroll saw projects he was working on. I always came away with thoughts of a new project to try.



  22. Charles Wheelen on March 25, 2024 at 9:34 am

    Dear Brilla, I am so sorry to learn of your loss. I will always remember Mr. Scott as one of my all-time favorite teachers. Throughout my life, the lessons I learned from him have probably had more practical value to me than any other classes I took (except perhaps your health education class). He was always so patient and kind. Please accept my condolence. Sincerely, Chip



  23. Linda Robinson on March 25, 2024 at 2:45 pm

    Linda and Scott Robinson
    We wanted to extend our deepest sympathy for your loss. Brilla, you and Larry have been life-long role models, starting in junior high school in Winfield, Kansas and continuing throughout adulthood. I will always remember Larry’s patience (and bravery) when teaching a car full of 14-year old girls how to drive. He was truly a special person and I know how much he will be missed by you and your family. Our hearts go out to you as you navigate your sorrow.

    Sincerely,
    Linda



  24. Matt M Montgomery on March 25, 2024 at 6:20 pm

    RIP Mr. Scott.
    You taught me well how to work on small engines and pretty much anything that ran on fuel.
    See you on the other side, you were a great mentor.
    Prayers to family and friends.



  25. kelley zimmerli on March 26, 2024 at 3:08 am

    My thoughts and prayers are with the family during this time. Mr Scott was a wonderful man, so many memories for me to see him and Mrs Scott every weekend at perkins. My heart is broken.



  26. Steve Foster on April 1, 2024 at 8:00 am

    Dear Brilla–you have been such a kind person– especially during my first year teaching at West Jr. High. Both you and Larrie have touched so many lives. I was fortunate to have Eric as a student while at LHS–he was always reliable, kind to others, and intelligent
    in his responses. He mirrored what both his strong parents taught him. My condolences to you and your family.
    Sincerely,
    Steve Foster



  27. Lori Ryan (Scully) on April 25, 2024 at 7:29 pm

    Hello my name is Lori Ryan (Scully) I am sorry to hear about the passing of C. Larrie Scott he taught me and my cousin to drive many many many many years ago and he was the sweetie man i could ever have known and i am sorry to hear of his passing my prayers go out to his family at this time



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