Obituary of Virginia J. Scott

Virginia "Ginny" Jean Anderson Scott, 77, of 103 Main St. Russell, PA, beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother, passed away Thursday (December 23, 2010) in the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY. She was the daughter of the late William James Anderson of Sarnia, Canada and Mary Jeannette Hanson Anderson of Open Meadows, NY. She was born in Portland, OR on September 4, 1933, while her father was working as a lighthouse keeper. The family moved back to New York in 1939 residing in Cottage Park, NY. Ginny was a graduate of the former Lakewood High School in 1951 and married Gerald "Jerry" Scott in 1953. They had two children, Michael and Tina. Ginny worked in earlier years at the Post Journal as a copy editor and during that time drew many of the pictures for the advertisements, After divorcing in 1975, she moved to Warren, PA where she had been working at the Warren Times Observer. In 1993 she opened her own business in Warren, PA called "Sweet Memories", a candy and gift shop which she ran by herself until July of 2009. Her customers will remember her handmade baskets and chocolates, but more than that her welcoming smile and personal service. A self-taught artist, Ginny created pen and ink drawings of local places such as the Hall of Philosophy and select cottages within the Chautauqua Institution, "Plumbush" a local bed and breakfast, Amish sawmills, pump jacks, churches and wildlife in Western New York and PA. She learned the art of weaving baskets and has made hundreds, selling them at local arts and crafts festivals in the area. With her significant other, Gilbert "Gib" Mead of Russell, PA, his son Scott and their family of friends, they started the annual Kinzua Heritage Arts and Music Festival in Russell, Pa in 2006. She was an animal lover who respected nature and all it had to offer. Her baskets were colored with steeped walnut stains she made herself and pieces of unique natural vegetation. She was always looking to create new and unusual pieces. It was her passion. She was a creative person who could look at objects in nature and visualize how to use them to enhance her artwork. She named her body of work "Indian Summer naturals". Autumn was her favorite time of year. She loved her flowers and couldn't resist creating gardens everywhere she lived. Ginny cherished her family, which included her "grand dogs" Carly and Penny and they loved their grandma. She was generous, kind, thoughtful and loyal to her family, friends and everyone she met. Her "never give up" spirit helped to sustain her throughout her illness this past year. She was ever hopeful of overcoming her disease. Surviving are her children, Tina L. Scott, Michael J. Scott both of Ashville, NY, two grandchildren Derek A. Eggleston of Buffalo, NY and Tanya L. Eggleston of Jamestown, NY, her great grandchildren Tyresse Thompson, Tracye and Trysten Eggleston all of Jamestown, a brother James E. Anderson of FL and her significant other Gilbert "Gib" Mead of Russell, PA. She will be dearly missed by her family, friends and all those who met her. Besides her parents she was preceded in death by a brother Alvin D. Anderson. The funeral will be held at 1:30p.m. Tuesday in the Lind Funeral Home. The Rev. Jon Swart of the Cable Hollow Community Church will officiate. Private interment will be in the Sunset Hill Cemetery. Friends will be received from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. Monday in the funeral home. The family suggests that memorials be made to the Roswell Park Alliance Foundation, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 631, Buffalo, NY 14240-0631 or to the Harmony Historical Society, P.O. Box 127, Ashville, NY 14710.