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Note: N4531 Scott Stanley Forde was the third child and first son born to Stan and Cynthia Vold Forde, born 7 weeks early in Lincoln Nebraska, weighing 5 lbs. and 7 ozs, 18 inches long. Scott was so tiny Stan could place his hand over Scott’s entire body. As a boy, he was a handful, full of zip and energy. It wore his mother out, yet she wishes so often she could have handled his incredible energy and zest for life better. Scott loved nature’s gifts, the outdoors.
Scott was baptized on July 30, 1961 by The Reverend Harold C. Jorgensen of The First Lutheran Church, in Ashland, Nebraska. His Godparents were Ron and Reva Forde. He was confirmed in his faith at Elk Horn Lutheran Church and completed his education from Elk Horn High School. Scott married Karen Sanders, daughter of Richard and LaVeta Sanders. Karen has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work from Houston Baptist University.
On April 9, of 1998, Scott was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia. He had not been feeling well since Valentine'sDay. It was a life-changing day for every member of his family. He endured five horrible months of agony without one complaint. His mother said,
I saw him cry only one time. Near the end, he wept saying, "I'm not afraid to die, I'm just afraid for my children. What will happen in life for them with out me around." And he sobbed. He was loved beyond words by every member of this family... Two delightful children survive their father: Samantha Rose, named after Scott's grandparents, Sam and Rose Forde; and Steven Richard named after Karen’s father. Both children are exceptionally bright as was their father. Steven tested in the top 2 percentile in the US entering kindergarten; he is in the Horizons Program for 'Gifted and Talented Children.'
Scott’s wife, Karen Forde, was an excellent wife devoted to raising their children who have coped in healthy ways. Samantha won the Houston Livestock and Rodeo Scholarship of $10,000.00 used for college at Texas A&M where she graduated in 2011. She is in a MA graduate program in couseling at the University of Houston. Steven became an Eagle Scout who won a $20,000.00 scholarship to Texas A&M where he graduated the spriing of 2014.
How does a family overcome a great loss? According to Grief and Loss studies, the healthiest way to resolve grief is to share memories, share stories and reach out to others. Everyone experiences grief in their own way and overcomes it in their own uniqe way. No one grieves wrong; yet, unresolved grief is unhealthy. Comfort comes to us from conversations with Scott who told us he knew how much he was loved. “Memories of Scott,” a round robin of stories writtten by family and friens is in the Appendix.
Scott asked his parents to be buried on the ranch in the nature that he loved so much with friends surrounding him. The director of Klein Funeral Home reported visitation of close to 800 either to the visitation or the funeral. He is buried two miles north and one quarter mile west of Elk Horn on Old Howth’s Road, September 5, 1998. The newly created cemetery is named 'Scott's Grove,' after Elk Horn Grove where he played with Tim, Troy, Roger and so many other friends as a child.
Scott’s Grove was registered as a cemetery with the State of Texas prior to burial; the land was surveyed and donated to Waller County. A private non-profit organization called Scott Forde Charitable Trust funds the non-profit cemetery (Scott’s Grove) that is dependent of funds placed in the charitable trust. Stan Forde and Cynthia Forde donated 2 + acres of land and stocks; combined with a generous donation by the McAmis family the property will be maintained through the next generation. 5% of the charitable trust must be paid to the cemetery trust annually.
Scott Forde leaves a legacy -- two incredible children -- a family that loves him... and a wealth of friends that recognized. “an innate goodness about him that everyone saw and loved,” by Dick Richards, Scott’s father-in-law.
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