Joe H. Scott, Sr. of St. Louis, passed peacefully surrounded by family on May 25, 2023.
Joe was born in St. Louis, Mo. on June 16, 1930, to Gertrude Haynes.
He met the love of his life, Loretta (Wolff) Scott, at the age of 14, they dated and married on December 31, 1948. Together they raised three sons, spending time between St. Louis, Missouri and Deerfield Beach, Florida.
Joe was an entrepreneur who started several businesses, including an awning and window company, heavy equipment dealerships, automobile dealerships, spirit businesses, aviation facilities, and timeshare resorts, however, his core business was always real estate.
Developing multifamily housing in Florida along with commercial and retail centers, his largest holdings are in his home state of Missouri, where he is consistently named to the top 150 Privately Held Businesses in the St. Louis Business Journal, as well as the top 150 Property Management Firms.
He was a man of few words, but great deeds. He and Loretta donated to the United Way their St. Louis headquarters building, ground in Florida to South Lake Hospital where now stands the Joe H. and Loretta Scott Medical Pavilion; and most recently donated the law school building to St. Louis University which is now known as the Joe and Loretta Scott Law Center.
As a child, he spent summers in the country in Ste. Genevieve County with his grandfather, where eventually he and Loretta would build their cattle ranch and spend countless weekends enjoying the countryside.
Joe is survived by his beloved wife of 74 years Loretta and children Joe Scott, Jr., Thomas Scott, and James (Karen) Scott, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He will be dearly missed by his many employees, friends, and business associates.
Private services will be held June 9, 2023.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be given at:
www.mercyhealthfoundation.net/south, Select “Heart Care” from the drop-down menu, any donation received In Memory of Joe H. Scott, Sr. will go toward the Heart Care fund.