Jimmy Scott Smith
June 14, 1968 – April 12, 2024
Jimmy Scott “Scotty” Smith passed away on April 12, 2024.
Throughout his life, Scotty struggled with many health issues. Tragically, he was diagnosed with liver cancer six months ago and ultimately lost his battle with the disease.
Scotty was born on June 14, 1968, at Emanuel Hospital in Turlock, to Jim and Linnie Smith. He attended Fairview Elementary School in Modesto. After finishing elementary school, the Smith family moved to Ceres where Scotty attended Mae Hensley Junior High and Ceres High School, graduating in 1986. During Scotty’s time at Ceres High he was a multi-sport athlete, excelling in football and baseball. He earned the privilege of playing in the Lions All-Star football game his senior year. Following high school, Scotty decided to further his education by attending Modesto Junior College while continuing his football career there.
While furthering his education, he held various jobs at Festival Cinemas, New Deal Market, Budweiser, and Coors, until he ultimately began his career in Ceres Unified School District in 2008. He held multiple positions in the district until he found his calling as the administrative assistant at Mae Hensley Junior High in 2014. Additionally, during the 2019-2020 school year he was named the CUSD Administrative Assistant of the Year.
One of the driving forces in Scotty’s life was being able to give back to the Ceres community. One of the main ways he gave back to Ceres was by volunteering his time and coaching multiple sports at all age levels. Those sports included travel baseball, high school football, and high school golf. When his health began to deteriorate and he could no longer coach, he became more involved in the CHS Boosters Club, ultimately becoming the president. In addition to coaching, he was a Lions Club member for 14 years where he and his fellow lions served the community in various ways.
Scotty also had a great love for his family. When he was younger his family spent treasured time in the mountains camping, hunting, and riding motorcycles. As he grew older, he cultivated many fond memories and love with his family and friends on the softball field. Scotty’s love for softball developed into playing more competitive fast pitch, coed and men’s slow pitch. This time was spent traveling all over with friends and family, which he dearly cherished. Ultimately, his priorities shifted when he became an uncle in 1996. Scotty treasured his relationship with his nephew and niece, as he spent countless hours making Jim and Sis a priority.
In 2016, Scotty reconnected with his former Ceres High School classmate, Jennifer, and their love quickly blossomed into a loving marriage. During this time, his relationship with the Lord deepened and he was baptized in the church. Their blended family included their daughters Morgan, Mallory, and dog Copper. The family grew as Morgan married James in 2021 and Mallory married Corey in 2022. In 2022, Scotty and Jennifer happily welcomed their first grandchild, Lily, to the family. Furthermore, the family is expecting their second grandchild from Morgan and James this year.
Over the last few years, the family also added fur babies, Shelby and Harley.
Scotty is preceded in death by his dad, Jim Smith, and his dog Copper. He is survived by his mother, Linnie (Ralph); wife Jennifer; daughters Morgan (James), Mallory (Corey), granddaughter Lily; sister Michelle; nephew Jimmy; niece Nicole (Sis), and dogs Shelby and Harley.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the Scotty Smith Memorial Athletic Scholarship. Checks may be made payable to Ceres High School Scholarships (writing “Scotty Smith Scholarship” in the memo line) and sent to Ceres High School, attn. Scholarships. P.O. Box 307, Ceres CA 95307.
–Ceres (Calif.) Courier
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
