Henrietta Roush Scott, 78, formerly of Adair County, passed away on Saturday, November 2, 2024, leaving behind an enduring legacy as a talented artist, dedicated educator, and devoted mother, grandmother, and friend. She was born to Loring Roush and Sara Glazier Roush on July 23, 1946 in Athens, Ohio.
The daughter of an artist, Henrietta thrived in her mother’s art studio and often accompanied her while she worked as an illustrator in the print field. It was this early influence that molded Henrietta’s sensibilities and instilled in her the desire to become an artist. By the time she graduated from Eastern High School in Louisville in 1964, Henrietta had chosen her life course. She had decided upon a career in education, knowing it would meld her love of art and teaching.
In 1968, Henrietta earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Eastern Kentucky University, majoring in Art Education. She later earned her Master’s Degree from Western Kentucky University in Art Education.
It was during her time at EKU that Henrietta met Jeffrey Grant Scott. The college sweethearts wed on February 3, 1968 and remained married for 48 years until his passing on August 18, 2016.
Henrietta spent most of her teaching career serving the students of Adair County High School. She taught them fundamental art concepts and techniques in drawing, painting, pottery, and mixed media.
Henrietta taught her students to appreciate and understand various forms of conventional art. However, she also taught them to see artistry in the natural world, forever awakening their passion for self-expression. She loved escorting students on excursions to various museums, even traveling abroad with student groups on art trips.
Her warm, calm, and kind nature was a magnet to students. Henrietta was their greatest supporter and cheerleader and she was often viewed as a friend, as well as an instructor. Those friendships have lasted and evolved over decades, and she was still in touch with many of her former students.
Throughout the years, Henrietta received many awards and accolades. Most notably, she was honored in 1986 as the recipient of the Governor’s Arts Award for Education, presented by Governor Martha Layne Collins and the Kentucky Arts Council. In 2007, Henrietta was the winner of two first place awards at the Kentucky State Fair. She placed first in the fair’s Kentucky Watercolor Society contest for her watercolor, Cedar Berries in First Snow. Her watercolor, The Sparks Place, won the Whip Mix Purchase Award and was acquired by the company.
Her iconic watercolor of the Adair County Courthouse can be seen hanging in many locations around the county. Henrietta’s artwork has also been featured in art shows and festivals across the state of Kentucky.
In addition to her other pursuits, Henrietta helped her husband establish a productive orchard of 250 trees which surrounded their home in the Sparksville community. The grounds boasted more than 50 varieties of apples alone, along with peaches, pears, cherries, and grapes. In the fall, the couple produced cider. The Scotts were founding members and supporters of the local farmer’s market where they sold produce and cider.
Three years after retiring in 1999, Henrietta and Jeff opened Highland Raku Studio. There they created one-of-a-kind, raku-fired ceramic pieces. It was this pottery that caught the attention of Churchhill Downs, which commissioned them to provide pottery pieces for the Kentucky Derby.
Always teachers at heart, Henrietta and Jeff didn’t stay away from teaching very long. They extended their love of art and teaching by offering classes in ceramics, drawing, watercolor, and oil painting. Students of all ages traveled from several surrounding counties to attend their classes.
As proponents of the arts, the Scotts also opened their studio to local artisans in an effort to provide support and studio space for them to work in their chosen medium. The studio also contained a gallery which sold their works and those of approximately 20 other juried artists from south-central Kentucky.
In 2015, Henrietta began teaching watercolor classes as an adjunct professor at Campbellsville University. It was there that the art exhibit Lifetime Partners: Art of Jeff & Henrietta Scott was held in 2017. In 2020 Henrietta sold the orchard and art studio and moved to Somerset to be closer to her daughter and grandchildren. However, her love of painting did not cease, and she established an art studio in her basement where she continued to create pieces which she exhibited at local venues.
Henrietta was a member of the Kentucky Watercolor Society, Sheltowee Artisans, Kentucky Crafted Market, Wandering Artists of Somerset, and a previous member of the Adair County Arts Council. Along with her artistic endeavors, she was an avid reader and loved to travel. Henrietta was a long-standing member of the Sparksville Baptist Church.
Besides her parents and husband, Henrietta was preceded in death by a brother, Clifford Selby Roush, in 2013.
SURVIVORS:
2 beloved daughters: Sara Marie Browning (Fred) of Somerset and Mary Beth Mowery (Michael) of Florida
2 adored grandchildren: Hayden Scott Browning and Addisyn Page Hatcher
2 step-grandchildren: Allen James Mowery and Asher Wayne Mowery
1 half-brother: Jimmy Roush (Anita) of Louisville
Sister-in-law: Mary Lou Feese (Dickie) of Edmonton
Special friend: Joey Hatcher
Numerous friends & loved ones
Memorial Service: Wednesday, November 6, 2024 at 12:00pmCT at Stott-Phelps-McQueary Funeral Home in Columbia, KY with Bro. Darrell Landis officiating
Interment: Sparkesville Baptist Church Cemetery
Visitation: After 4:00pmCT on Tuesday, November 5, 2024 at the funeral home
Pallbearers: Hayden Browning, Darren Henson, Guy Shepperd, John England, David Thomas, and Sasha Bela
Because of the deep love for her grandchildren and her belief in education, Henrietta asked that in lieu of flowers, alternative expressions of sympathy take the form of donations to the Apple of My Eye Scholarship in honor of Hayden Browning and Addisyn Hatcher.
Stotts-Phelps-McQueary Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
