To William Scott Johns III, the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, he was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around him, he seemed to be eternally happy, and he willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life he touched. For Scott, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, he could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Scott really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.
Scott was born on September 14, 1965 at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville, FL. His parents were William Scott Johns, Jr and Joyce Tindell. Scott was raised in Mandarin, FL. Even as a child, Scott had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around him. He was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. He couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention. He was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, he succeeded in entertaining his entire family.
Always a good playmate, Scott was easygoing and fun loving. He managed to lighten the mood wherever he was, even during family squabbles. He seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, Scott managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. Scott was raised with two siblings. He had two older sisters, Cindy and Karen.
All of Scott's playful good humor carried over into his childhood. He was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed him to be constantly on the go. As a result, Scott experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited him very well. He took part in baseball and football throughout childhood and high school. He was a member of Little League and Pop Warner Football. In his spare time he liked to play sports, fish and baseball cards. Scott's memorable achievements included starring in allstar games in baseball every season.
Ask anyone who knew him from school and they would tell you that Scott was a class “cut-up.” He didn’t do it to be unkind or to garner all the attention. Rather, Scott simply enjoyed others’ laughter and the sounds of his friends and acquaintances having a good time. It could be said that for Scott, grades may not have been the most important thing to him, but he really did enjoy his school experience. Since experience was Scott's best teacher. He enjoyed hands-on learning and applying the “practical” approach to knowledge, rather than getting caught up in “theory.” Scott graduated from Alfred I duPont Jr High and Wolfson Senior High in 1983. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. His favorite class in high school was Woodshop. He won second place in the state for a mirror he carved and made in woodshop in 1980 in Jr. high.
Scott never actually encountered a stranger in his dealings with people. He was drawn to individuals and crowds, using his gregarious, adaptable and outgoing personality to captivate his audience. This quality allowed Scott to continually develop new relationships, ever widening his circle of friends. Scott delighted in his role among all his acquaintances, because he viewed them all as potential spectators for his performance. Whether it was a story, a joke, a song or just plain fooling around, Scott was always right at home putting on a show among his friends. Scott utilized his interest in others as a great way to connect with them. While growing up, some of his best friends were Paul DeGrove, Billy Petty, Scott Franklin and many many more. Later in life he cherished Beverly Hoffman and James Lourcey was his dearest friend. Scott loved sharing life and having his home filled with people he knew.
Perhaps the reason Scott related so well to children was the fact that he never really completely grew up himself. The ability to be just a “kid at heart” helped him in raising his own children. Scott was blessed with one child, one daughter, Jessica Hanna Rose. Scott had the ability to focus his attention on the present moment. If he was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of his attention was directed. Scott's compassionate side prevented him from being a strict disciplinarian, and he could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. He could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. In fact, Scott had a knack for turning some of those nasty old chores into games.
At work, as in life, Scott was a real “people person. ” he had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and his enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. Scott liked to see himself as something of a virtuoso. When dealing with various projects and problems, Scott was an adaptable realist, using his common sense and trusting his experiences and impulses to uncover the correct answer. Scott's talent for being a down to earth thinker, allowed many around him to see Scott as an excellent problem solver. His primary occupation was landscaping. He was employed for himself.
Scott enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. An “arts and crafts” type, Scott liked creating and making things. His favorite pursuits were men's softball and fishing. Scott was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.
Scott felt excited and challenged by sports. Even if he wasn’t the best, Scott loved to participate and thoroughly enjoyed the competition and the pleasure of being around other people. Scott relished the opportunities where he could make an impact, and he would often push himself to play above his abilities. A quick thinker who understood the basics, Scott never seemed to get caught off guard, even when confronted with unexpected conflict. In high school, Scott played football. Recreational sports included men's softball. Scott was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were Nascar, college football and baseball.
Living life in the fast lane suited Scott just fine. It is no surprise that he loved to travel and to visit new and different places. He was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. He was impulsive and willing to try anything once. Favorite vacations included camping and fishing.
Scott was a lover of animals and cherished his pets, enjoying them almost as much as he enjoyed being around other people. One of Scott's favorites was Goodness, a mixed breed. They were best friends for 5 years.
Scott passed away on March 18, 2010 at at home in Atlantic Beach, FL. He is survived by his daughter Jessica, his mother Joy Tindell and his sisters Cindy and Karen. Services were held at Hardage & Sons/Chapel Hills. Scott was laid to rest in Chapel Hills Memory Gardens beside his father.
Scott brought joy to all of those around him. He never had a mean bone in his body. He loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. He loved to share his energy, wit, and his zest for all of his activities with his friends and family. William Scott Johns III lived life to its fullest and made everyone around him happier just for knowing him. He will be remembered with a smile.
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