James Harrell

James Scott Allen "Scooter" Harrell, 46, of Columbia Falls, passed away suddenly Aug. 25, 2011, in Minot, S.D.

Scott was born Oct. 14, 1964, to Merton and Joy Harrell in Portland, Ore. His father worked for the Forest Service and his childhood was spent in a variety of cities and states.

He moved to Montana in 1978 and graduated from Columbia Falls High School in 1983. He went into the Army in 1984, where he served as a communication specialist until a job incident resulting in elbow and knee injuries led to an honorable discharge in 1988.

It was while stationed at Fort Huachuca that he married Vielka "Chi-Chi" Walters in 1986. They welcomed a daughter Candice Judet in January of the following year. After his discharge, they moved to Kalispell, where he worked at Kalispell Regional Medical Center. A son, Joseph Daniel, was born in July 1991.

Scott started working as a satellite television installer in 1992 and continued in that line of work until he accepted employment by Halliburton in Williston, N.D.

Scott was an avid reader, and his favorite genre was science fiction. He loved playing games and was a mean card and poker player. He had a wicked left-hand curve ball when bowling, but his favorite sport was baseball. When Scott played shortstop, no one could get on base.

As an adult, he carried that love of the sport into umpiring as well as coaching. Scooter loved kids and will be missed as a playmate to many "friends" and families' children. His sense of the absurd, his fun spirit, loud giggle and generosity bless all who knew him.

James Scott is survived by his grandfather Ronald Aldrich and great aunt Shirley Aldrich; parents Merton and Joy Harrell; uncle Guy Aldrich; children Candice and Joseph; siblings Tracy Sullivan, Mylinda Klein and Dennis Harrell; nieces Tina Sullivan, Anne and Nyla Klein, and Katie and Kristina Harrell; and nephews William, Robert and Thomas Sullivan and Mason Klein.

An open house memorial will be held at his parents' home at 4635 Blankenship Road, Columbia Falls, on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011, from 4-6 p.m. For those who cannot attend, a photo or a favorite memory can be sent. Each memory will be read aloud and released with a hot air balloon in his honor at 6 p.m.