Irene Babcock Scott
Irene Babcock Scott was born on a farm in Charlotte, Michigan on June 12, 1910 to Lydia (Clark) and Archie Babcock. After moving to Washougal, Washington she learned to ride a horse at a very young age and helped with the milking at age 12. She rode horseback to school, and delivered milk to the creamery with a horse and wagon. After graduating from Washougal High School she attended Central Washington University (then known as a Normal School) where she played violin in the orchestra and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in music. She also met her future husband Charles E. Scott while at Central. In 1933 they married and both became teachers. After teaching two years in Washougal, both she and her husband accepted positions in a three-room school in Bickleton, Washington where they remained for six years. While there, Mr. Scott led the Boy Scouts and Mrs. Scott taught piano lessons. She stayed in close contact with a number of her students throughout her life, outliving most of them. One of their favorite pastimes in Bickleton was horseback riding. After moving to North Bend in 1941, the Scotts had the first of three children, then moved to the small farm where they lived out their lives. Irene spent fifty-two years as church organist for Our Lady of Sorrows. She served on St. Martha’s Guild for over forty years and also served on the Altar Society. In addition to teaching in the Snoqualmie Valley Schools, Mrs. Scott belonged to the music club and the garden club. She was especially interested in organic gardening.After her husband’s death in 1974, Mrs. Scott made two journeys to Europe and Africa where she visited in nineteen countries. After retiring from her thirty-year teaching career, Mrs. Scott devoted much time to helping a four-generation family of Hmong emigrants sponsored by Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church. She tutored adults in basic learning skills and served on the Snoqualmie Valley Hospital Auxiliary Board.Mrs. Scott had two brothers, Ralph and Bruce Babcock, deceased. Mrs. Scott is survived by her three children: Charles E. Scott Jr. and his wife Maria Angelica Gelos of North Bend; James Michael Scott and his wife, Barbara Carlsen of Belfair; and Mary Jaffe and her husband Robert Jaffe of Port Orchard. She has nine grandchildren: Maria Hernandez (Edward), Patrick Scott (Emma), and Laura Scott; Lisa Matala (Chris), Clarence J. Scott (Jennifer), Charles Scott (Marsha), and Dr. Josef Scott; George A. Carter Jr., Christopher E. Carter (Regina); and nineteen great grandchildren. She is also survived by nieces Diana Talbot of Seattle and Nita Gale Browne of Spokane and numerous extended family members and friends.A Funeral Mass will be said at 11:00 am at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Snoqualmie, on Saturday 25 September.
