Gary Scott

Gary Lee Scott, 73, of Wilmington, NY and later Bloomingdale, NY, died peacefully at the Adirondack Medical Center on Wednesday, July 31, 2019, after suffering with aspirational pneumonia.

Gary was born at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Washington, D.C. on July 26, 1946 to Theodore L. Scott and Gertrude E. (Neiss) Scott. He attended elementary school in Marlboro, MA, later moving and graduating from Peru Central High School, Peru, NY in 1967. He attended and graduated Adirondack Community College in 1969 and Plattsburgh State University in 1971, earning degrees in both Communication and Criminal Justice.

Gary joined the United States Marine Corps in 1971, where he was stationed at the U.S. Portsmouth Naval Prison, located in Kittery, Maine, and dubbed the Alcatraz of the East. Upon honorable discharge from the U.S. Marines in 1975, Gary was employed as a Deputy with the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department where he found his true passion, becoming head of the Search and Rescue Unit and trainer/handler of Mandy, the unit’s bloodhound. Gary demonstrated and trained other law enforcement agencies attending Northern Federation of Law Enforcement Officers seminars in the use of canines in search and rescue missions. Deputy Scott and his canine unit participated in many search missions to include a missing 11 year-old Peru boy whom he located safe near a swamp in 1977, and in the search for a twin-engine Piper Navajo plane that crashed on Christmas night, 1978, and later located on April 30, 1979 on the North side of Nye Mountain. Gary continued to be a proponent of developing canine search and rescue units in other towns for many years.

Gary worked briefly with the Keeseville Police Department before he joined the Federal Bureau of Prisons located in Ray Brook, NY, in 1980. Gary was one of the original employees to first open the Federal Correctional Institution, Ray Brook, where he worked for 20 years, retiring as a Correctional Counselor in 2000.

Gary enjoyed hunting and fishing throughout his life and owned and operated Adirondack Guide Service for many years in order to introduce others to the sport of hunting and fishing. Gary’s favorite fishing spot was Taylor Pond.

Gary was predeceased by his father and mother. Of particular pride to Gary was his father, Theodore, being honored as a World War II Naval Pilot Hero after completing 33 bombing missions in Europe and Africa with the 20th and 15th Air Forces. Theodore and Gertrude, a U.S. Navy nurse, are both buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia.

Gary is survived by his caregiver and loving companion, Barbara J. Darrah, of Bloomingdale, NY, and Barbara’s sons, Thomas, Benjamin, Matthew, and Daniel Darrah. Also surviving are cousins Diana Toth, New Hampshire, Toni Reome and Kathy Kecar, Plattsburgh, and Russell Parry, Spain.

Calling hours will be held at Mother Cabrini’s Shrine, 51 Patent Road, Peru, NY on Tuesday, August 6, 2019, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Burial and a prayer service will immediately follow at Old Peru Cemetery, North Bend Street, Peru.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Tri-Lakes Humane Society or the Elmore SPCA in remembrance of Gary’s love for all animals.

Family, friends, and others are also encouraged to sign the online guest book (www.fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com) expressing their condolences or sharing their most memorable recollections about Gary.