Raymona ""Mona"" Scott

On August 31, 2017, Raymona “Mona” Gayle Scott was found dead at her home in North Denver. On the same day fifty-three years earlier, in Stockton, California, a school teacher named Elma was at home preparing for the birth of her second and final child: a girl. Eighteen days later, on September 17th 1963, Raymona “Mona” Gayle Watson came peacefully and happily into the world. Mona remained happy throughout her childhood, which was spent alongside her elder brother and only sibling, whom she called her first and true protector, and we know as Arlin “Bunky” Watson. Growing up, Mona was as likely to be found wearing yellow petticoat dresses and playing quietly with her dolls as on the softball field in ballcap and blue jeans. Mona was an unusually gifted and capable child. She began to read and create at a young age, quickly demonstrating great skill both as artist and student. Mona was sensitive and compassionate, excellent with animals and curious of life; yet also comfortably self-sufficient, with a tenacious will to defend what she knew was Fair and Just. At the 1967 California State Fair, she set free an entire corral of prize-winning hogs. When asked why she had done so (having finally been retrieved from the chaotic herd), she replied: “because they were sad in there.” Of all her many talents, however, Mona’s greatest and most cherished was her gift of Healing. In 1981, Mona became the youngest person ever to graduate with her bachelor’s degree in Nursing from San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton, California. She graduated top three in her class, with numerous job offers to begin her life-long career as a dedicated and highly accomplished nurse. Throughout her career, Mona would enter into and excel at many positions in the nursing field, unlimited to and including: Pediatric Care at the Children’s Hospital of Oakland; Flight Nurse; Operating Room Attendant; Critical Care Specialist & Lead Nurse at Oakland General Hospital; and in the final ten years of her life as a Dialysis Nurse for Denver’s Chronic Inpatient Facilities. People were naturally drawn to and comforted by Mona’s presence, and she carried kindness in her heart all the days of her life. Mona married thrice, was once a widow, twice divorceé, unmarried at the last. Her first marriage was at 19 to Jim Jassa, and ended three years later when he took his own life. Her second husband, Steven Alves, would become the father of her only child in a marriage that lasted 11 years. Her final marriage to Daniel Scott would last nearly twenty years and provide her with four step-children and four grand-children, all of whom she would come to love and value as her own. Though divorced in 2012, Dan and Mona would remain close friends and trusted confidants to one another for the rest of their lives. In the final two years of her life, Mona met and fell in love with a man named Joeseph Fontineau, who preceeded Mona in death on 20 August 2016. Mona was a woman of infinite grace and generosity, beloved by many, cherished so dearly by those who knew her. If ever there exists a land of Perfect Sunshine, she must be there in peace, at last. Mona is survived by her daughter, Christina M. Alves; brother, Arlin Watson; stepchildren: William Scott, Annabel Scott, Nicolette Scott, Holly Scott; grandchildren: Alexandra Scott, Aiden Aslikson, Grace Jones, and Abby Jones. She was preceded in death by: Elma J. Watson (mother); Raymond O. Watson (father); Daniel S. Scott (ex-husband). A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, 6 September 2017, starting with a reception at 5:30PM and the service at 7PM at Horan & McConaty Heartlight Center, 11150 E. Dartmouth Ave. Aurora, Co. 80014.