Scott Curtis Raines' Obituary
Scott Curtis Raines, 62, of Amarillo, died suddenly Sunday, August 28, after an apparent heart attack at a local hospital in Amarillo.
Funeral Services are scheduled for 2:00 PM Thursday, September 1, 2022, at the First United Methodist Church in McLean with Rev. Ruby Moultrie and Rev. Thacker Haynes officiating. Burial will follow in Hillcrest Cemetery in McLean. Viewing and visitation will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday, August 31st, from 5:00-7:00 PM.
Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors of McLean.
Scott was born on January 25, 1960, to Ted and Linda (Looper) Raines in Clinton, Oklahoma. After graduating from McLean High School in 1978, he attended Southwestern Oklahoma State University where he played football for the Bulldogs. Always eager to learn, but never too fond of the classroom, Scott spent a few semesters at Texas Tech before embarking on a series of jobs in the oilfield, both on land and at sea, ending at the Texas Railroad Commission for 13 years. Scott married Evelyn Gragson on August 21, 1982. Their son Brandon arrived June 29, 1983, to the delight of his parents and big sister, Sasha.
Scott left the Railroad Commission in 1996 to work for Michael Dell and spent 18 years as an employee of Dell, Inc. In the last years of his career with Dell, Scott moved from his beloved Austin/Round Rock area to Oklahoma City to help his paternal grandmother Lahoma and to be closer to family in McLean. Never happy to be apart for too long, Brandon soon followed his Dad. In his time in Oklahoma, Scott turned his attention to spiritual and academic studies with a determination that was admirable. Scott received his License to Preach as a local pastor from the Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church in 2011. He also began work on his college degree at the University of Oklahoma, where he repeatedly landed on the Dean's and President's lists.
Although work and fatherhood took up most of Scott's time as an adult, he enjoyed physical training of any kind, fishing, and eliciting a laugh from anyone and everyone. He was particularly fond of causing his sisters to laugh in situations where giggling is frowned upon. Scott truly could and would talk to anyone. He brought friendliness, curiosity, and a sense of humor that ranged from astoundingly silly to wickedly witty to every conversation. Possessed of a beautiful singing voice, Scott sang in many church choirs (and on a few honky tonk stages) in his life. He was especially proud of being asked to sing the national anthem in front of Governor Ann Richards. He had a deep love of music, a love he passed on and watched grow and bloom in his son.
Scott moved home to McLean after Brandon’s untimely death in 2013. Although Scott struggled mightily in his grief, he continued to try to improve his own life and the lives of others. After relocating to Amarillo, Scott served as the congregational care pastor at Saint Paul's UMC and worked as a hospice chaplain. In the last few years of his life, and in spite of claiming to be semi-retired, Scott held multiple jobs, capitalizing on his charm as a salesman and his ability to put in a hard day's labor. A self-described "late-bloomer," Scott received his Associate of Science from Clarendon College in 2016, his BA in social work from OU in 2018 and at the time of his death, had completed the first year of the MSSW program at WTAMU. His academic dedication was undoubtedly a shock to most, if not all, of his former teachers, his mother among them. Scott insisted that Linda display his grade reports and loved to tell people he'd finally "made the refrigerator" for something good.
The true "something good " of Scott's life was in his dedication as a single father to Brandon, his love of his family, and his volunteer work. The extent of Scott's community service was not even known to his closest family members until his sudden death. Scott volunteered at the Wesley Community Center, the Amarillo Homeless Coalition, Faith City Mission, as an on-call hospital chaplain, Guyon Saunders, Mobile Meals, the regional food bank of Oklahoma, and as volunteer coordinator of the year for Habitat for Humanity. A previous state powerlifting champ, Scott trained Special Olympians in that event. He served on multiple missions to Casa Esperanza and led a mission trip to Boys Ranch in Gore, Oklahoma. Most recently, Scott was participating in and leading both a grief support group and a group for survivors of suicide loss. In a thank you letter for a scholarship he received, Scott wrote “I was lucky enough to grow up in McLean, Texas, with a family that put serving the community as a top priority. . . By example, I saw how important it is for people to work to serve others.”
Scott was preceded in death by his son, Brandon Scott Raines, his sister Sally Haynes Carter, and his Dad Samuel A. Haynes. He is survived by his mother Linda Haynes of McLean, his father, Ted Raines and wife Linda of Winona, two brothers, Thacker Haynes and wife Sharon of McLean and Jason Raines and wife Misty of Boston, Massachusetts, and three sisters, Kathy Duniven of Clarendon, Jennifer Evans and husband Rick of McLean, and Dollie Haynes-Buckhaults and husband Tex of Clarendon, a special friend Kyna O'Neal and daughters Olivya and Nykole. Scott is also survived by two uncles, John M Haynes of McLean, and Lynn Raines of Oklahoma City. Scott was a beloved uncle to Chris Evans, Jack Evans, JT Haynes, Kristina Luna, Charlie Carter, Shearaton Carter, Alexandria Carter, Xenia DeMaroney, Minnie Buckhaults, Lee Buckhaults, Tessa Rose, Albert Buckhaults, and Elinor Buckhaults.
Friends and classmates of Scott's have established a memorial fund to plant a tree at the McLean Methodist Church honoring both Scott and his sister, Sally. Donations may be mailed to the McLean Methodist Church, PO Box 125; McLean, Texas 79057 with a memo indicating the memorial fund.
What’s your fondest memory of Scott?
What’s a lesson you learned from Scott?
Share a story where Scott's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Scott you’ll never forget.
How did Scott make you smile?
