Scott Albert Crouse

Scott Albert Crouse passed away June 16, 2024 at his home in Burlington, CO. He was 63 years old and the oldest of four children. He was born at Kit Carson County Memorial Hospital on September 22, 1960 to his parents Scott Rockne and Doris Louise Crouse. His father was a long-time farmer and rancher at the family’s residence south of Bethune. His mother worked as a registered nurse at KCCMH for 43 years. 

Scottie attended Bethune Public School from 1st grade – 12th grade, graduating in 1978. Following high school, he attended Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, CO for two years. He then went to Western State College in Gunnison, CO and graduated in 1983 with his bachelor’s degree in education. 

After graduating college, Scottie moved back to the Burlington area and helped his dad on the family farm and ranch. During that time, he got stepped on by a horse and ended up with a shattered ankle, which kept him from pursuing a teaching position. Following his accident and healing, he was able to get a position as a deputy with the Kit Carson County Sheriff’s Department. 

After leaving the sheriff’s department, Scottie went to work for Farmer’s Ford New Holland as a mechanic specializing in both balers and combines. He would often be sent across the country for numerous trainings to keep updated on mechanical aspects of the most recent balers and combines on the market. His mechanical knowledge was well-known across the area, and farmers would make special requests for his services. Scottie would make frequent trips to the San Luis Valley to service the combine fleet for Coors before the harvest season began. He loved this line of work and the people he worked with and encountered while on the job. 

Scottie was married to Debra Stubby. They enjoyed spending time camping, fishing, watching fireworks, and listening to the wind chimes in the evening. Debra’s daughter, Leah, always considered Scottie “Dad.” 

During the last several years, Scottie worked at Safeway as a courtesy clerk. He loved his work there because he got to visit with family and friends as they came to Safeway to do their shopping. This past fall, he suffered some major health issues that forced him to leave his work at Safeway. This was a difficult time for him as he missed seeing his working family and staying in touch with the customers. During this time, he lived with his sister Dora for over three months. When they would make trips to Safeway, while Dora was shopping, he would sit outside and catch up with people. He also felt it was his “duty” to round up carts and take them into the store. 

Beyond work, Scottie loved the outdoors and racing remote control cars. Nature called him from time to time and he would make a quick camping and fishing trip to the mountains to get away for a while. He could often be found checking out the latest remote-control vehicles on the market. He built his own gas-powered remote-control cars and raced them locally. Scottie had a mechanical gift and could work on most anything and help problem-solve what was going on with most vehicles and equipment, both large and small. Being a kid at heart, he loved his morning cartoons and especially was a fan of the Tazmanian Devil. He always kept up with the Colorado Avalanche and would cheer them on any chance he had. From the time he was young, Scottie loved his cats. He always had them around and loved them like family. Christmas was one of his favorite holidays, wearing his Christmas hat and PJs to the family gathering. He enjoyed playing family games and loved a good game of Tripoly. 

Scottie is proceeded in death by his mom and dad (Doris and Scott), along with his grandparents and numerous aunts and uncles. Those left to mourn his passing are his oldest sister Dora (Crouse) King and son Cameron and wife Samantha, his youngest sister Teresa (Crouse) Bauman and husband Wayne, his brother Mark Crouse and his daughters Marki and husband Christian, Raena and husband Cameron, and Mattie, along with Debra and Leah as well as numerous grandkids and great-grandkids. He also leaves behind many aunts, uncles, and cousins. 

A graveside service, open to all who would like to attend, will be held on Friday, July 19, 2024 at 9 o’clock AM at the Fairview Cemetery in Burlington, CO with Pastor Bill Viergutz officiating. Scottie was an avid Colorado Avalanche fan and a kid at heart watching his cartoons regularly. The family requests that, if possible, for those attending the service to wear Avalanche or a cartoon character t-shirt or other gear. 

With his love for animals, the family is requesting that memorial contributions be made in his name to EPAWA (Eastern Plains Animal Welfare Alliance) and be left at the service or mailed to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main, Goodland, KS 67735.