By Joshua Scott

Obituary for Benjamin Michael Scott (Born Anchorage, Alaska, Providence Hospital, February 12th, 2008. Died Copper Center, Alaska, December 22, 2021 of an accident involving a firearm).  Written by his father Joshua Martin Scott (Born CA, 1971).  And honoring our beloved wife and mother, Laura Patricia Hadra De Scott (Born Buenos Aires, Argentina 1971). 

When you are younger you don't pay much attention to obituaries.  I am writing this obituary and have no real remembrance about its form.  He was my son, so I'm going to write it my way.

Benji, at 13, was the youngest of 5 siblings.  Anna, the eldest at 25 now; John, 22; Paul, 20 and David, 18.  He was a bit shy but growing in confidence.  He smiled a lot, but only if he was sure no one was looking.  He doted on his mom and his brothers and sister.  And they in turn doted on him.  

His mother fits and defines the word.  She shaped Benji with uncommon kindness and un-bounding love.  Benji had a fierce love and sense of protection for her.  She is the one who will embarrass with a note on how much she loves him in the lunch bag.  She is the one who will make real chicken soup when you are a little down.  Benji had a hard time playing nonchalant with her affections.  He really loved her and this was commonly known. 

When Benji was born Anna took the self-appointed job as second mother with dedication.  She was loving and caring to his every need.  In order as time passed, he enjoyed, endured, and evaded her.  He loved his sister and took special pride in being an uncle to her daughter, Blair Rose.  Those bonds are unique and worth remembering.  

He enjoyed learning to fill his brothers’ long and slightly diverging footsteps.  He did not measure himself up to only one of his brothers but to all of them.  He was humbly driven.  His brothers were very good to him and loved him dearly.  They helped guide him on hunting, fishing, wrenching, skiing, snowmachines and motorcycles.  Just like his brothers, he was going to commercial fish in Bristol Bay this summer.  I think he had all of his future potential income mentally spent.  Even though they were far in distance he would talk to his brothers at least five times a week.  They were a brotherly unit with no jealousy or ill will.  Any strife was short lived and usually laughed about shortly after. 

He called me Pap.  Or Papi.  We did everything together lately.  We had winter plans to fish and trap.  

He could fix about everything I put him on.  When he didn't forget what I told him to do.  We argued quite a bit lately.  But not in the hurtful way.  More so in the genuine way of explaining positions.  He was right some of the times.  I nearly always tried to listen.  I remember that the last time I was mad at him was about a month ago, but I don't remember why.  The last conversation I had with him about his future, was he wanted to do something with engineering and aviation, but not be an aeronautical engineer.  He could have done anything and I would have been proud of him.

We were reading a book together, “Prisoners of Geography.”  He was fun to debate with.  He got a moose, caribou and sheep in 2021.  He rebuilt his brother's 1967 3 hp Johnson outboard engine.  He built a wood stool with a snow machine etched on it.  He learned to drive when he was 10 and was getting good at it recently.  He liked listening to Johnny Cash, C.C.R., Mumford and Sons, Alt J and Avicii.  He almost finished reading “The Two Towers.” 

He was a committed and strong wrestler.  He had lots of friends on his team and enjoyed being in shape and pushing himself.  He had straight A's.  He was unaware that he had just made “Student of the Quarter” and missed that ceremony by a few days.  He was loved by his teachers and in turn he cared about them.

He really did care for and was close to his friends.  He wasn't concerned about race or where you came from, he only cared if you were genuine.  He had a lot of genuine friends.  He was going to be a fine man that you, his friends and family would be proud of.  I attest to this as his loving father who watched him closely.

That's the short version of about the 5000 days that we had to share with Benji.  I miss and love you fiercely,

Pap.

To the community of the Copper River Valley and beyond: Thanks so much for the support you have given our family.  You make us proud and humble.