Merle Marion Scott On February 12, 2014, Merle transitioned at the age of 86. He was born on March 8, 1927 in Edwardsville, Illinois. He is a graduate of Lincoln High School in East Saint Louis, Illinois where he had formed a jazz band called “Merle Scott’s Victory Stompers”. Merle played tenor sax and was the leader of the band. Miles Davis played trumpet. During his senior year, Merle’s band won first place in the Illinois State Jazz Band Contest.

After high school, Merle briefly attended the University of Michigan but soon returned home to East St. Louis to marry his high school sweetheart, Georgia Logan. To this union one daughter was born, Brenda Elaine Scott.

In 1945 Merle enlisted in the United States Army where due to his musical ability was assigned to the Army Jazz Band which was stationed in Berlin, Germany. After the war ended, Merle was honorably discharged and sent home from Germany.

Merle then went on to the School of Pharmacy at Howard University in Washington, D.C. where he was awarded a degree in Pharmacy. He also served as Senior Class President of the School of Pharmacy. After graduation and a brief return home, Merle decided to move to Chicago to find work as a pharmacist. There, a group of African American pharmacists in Chicago took him under their wings. It was through one of these fellow pharmacists that he would eventually meet and marry his second wife, Verna Darensbourg. To this union two daughters were born, Patricia Ann Scott and Denise Ann Scott.

After working for almost 10 years as the manager of a large Walgreens Store in the Lake Meadows Shopping Center on Chicago’s South Side, Merle decided it was time to pursue his dream of self-employment. Through his business partnerships with others, he was able to acquire three drugs stores and five pharmaceutical laboratories.

His success in business allowed Merle to pursue other dreams like owning a fishing boat and airplane and obtaining his pilot’s license. Merle liked the simple pleasures in life like fishing, bowling, going to Chicago’s many museums, picnicking at the beach, Sunday drives, and sharing meals with family and friends. He was also an avid bridge player. A number of years ago, he finally went on a cruise which is something he said that he always wanted to do. So Merle could truly say that when all was said and done, he had a full and satisfying life.

Although Merle remained in Chicago until the end of 2013, he always felt most at home in Edwardsville and East St. Louis where he made frequent visits over the years. In fact, once he even flew there by plane (as the pilot) to spend time with family and friends. Merle’s favorite song was Clair de Lune, by Claude Debussy. Whenever we hear it in the future, he would probably not mind if we thought of him.

Merle, was the eldest son of George “Buster” Scott and Hortense Brown, who along with his brother, Gilbert Scott, and his sister, Maxine Scott Fields Teer, have predeceased him. Merle is survived by daughters Brenda Scott (Calvin) May, Patricia Scott (Jeffery) Terry, and Denise Scott (Donyea) Baker; granddaughters Calvette May, Shannon (Christopher) Marrero , and Robynn (Jerome) Nichols; great grandchildren Lauren Elaine Marrero and Maxwell Jameson Nichols; nieces Linda Hamilton, Carol Williams, Elise (James) Dixon, Sheri Scott Greer, Theresa Scott, and Cheryl Bynum;, as well as many other relatives, and close friends.

His memorial service will be held at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery on March 7, 2014 at 2:30 pm