Nicolas Scott

Nicolas Neal Scott, known to many as Nick, was born Nicolas Aweyo on June 23, 1991, near Homa Bay, Kenya. His first days were marked by loss when his birth mother died in childbirth; two weeks later he was adopted by Neal and Tillie Scott and given the name he carried through life. As an infant he lived in East Africa, spending early childhood years in Morogoro, Tanzania while his adoptive parents served as missionaries. The family later returned to the United States and lived in several states before settling near Hodgen, Oklahoma.

Nick’s early education was primarily at home; he was homeschooled through the early grades and later attended middle school in Hodgen and high school in Heavener, Oklahoma. In school he was active in football and basketball — the latter remained a lifelong passion. Friends recall a quiet young man who warmed as people got to know him, revealing a gentle humor and deep compassion. He was described by those close to him as thoughtful, often reflecting on questions of faith and meaning, and reading his Bible regularly.

As a young adult Nick faced serious practical obstacles when his citizenship paperwork was misplaced, a struggle that contributed to periods of instability and homelessness in his later years. Despite hardship, he maintained hopes for the future: friends who spoke at his memorial remembered Nick dreaming of getting a GED, returning to school, and one day using his life to help others. He remained connected to family — his father Neal Scott and siblings were part of his life — and to friends from faith and community groups who supported him in difficult times.

Nick’s life touched people across cultures and places: from his earliest days in Kenya and Tanzania to the communities he joined in the United States. Those who knew him remember him for quiet kindness, a thoughtful curiosity, and a compassionate outlook that saw dignity in others even amid struggle. His life — though cut short — left an imprint on family and friends who gathered to remember him, honor his memory, and speak of the warmth he offered.

This remembrance tries to reflect the human details that defined Nicolas Neal Scott: a son and brother, a young man shaped by cross-cultural beginnings, a basketball lover, and someone who carried steady hopes for a better future. The public record preserves the date of his death, but those who knew him hold the fuller picture of a life lived with care for others.