December 2, 1941 – November 22, 2022
Tom Scates, 80, passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022, in Shreveport after a brief illness.
Services will be held on Wednesday, November 30, 2022, at 11:00am at First Baptist Church Shreveport Frost Chapel with Dr. Jeff Raines officiating. Visitation will be in the parlor of First Baptist Church prior to the services at 10:00am.
Tom was born in Houston on Dec. 2, 1941 to Clarence Edward Scates and Imlay Cook Scates. He grew up and attended Istrouma High School in Baton Rouge, where he met and married the love of his life, Peggy Louise Chadwick. Tom graduated from LSU with a BS degree in Physics. He received his Master’s degree in Physics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and worked three years as a test engineer for the Space Program’s Saturn V rocket that would land the first man on the moon. In 1966, he began his sales and marketing career with IBM, a job he loved for 34 years. After retirement, he was able to spend more time with his favorite hobbies – fishing, golfing, and following LSU sports. Tom was a 43-year member of First Baptist Church Shreveport where he served as Head of Deacons, and on the Personnel, Finance and Pastoral Search committees. He was a godly man who taught love for the Lord every day. Honesty, integrity and hard work were instilled in his children and grandchildren. “Just do the best you can, and that’s all you can do” was a constant reminder to his family. Tom prided himself on using logic to solve all problems. He was a kind, honorable man who enjoyed the simple things in life.
Tom is survived by his wife of over 59 years, Peggy Chadwick Scates; his daughter, Sherri Scates Gagner and spouse, Fabian, of Austin, TX, and their children, Lauren and Lynsey; daughter, Suzanne Scates Daroowala and spouse, Zubin, of Cypress, TX, and their children, Zach, Brandon, and Shane; son David Thomas Scates, and spouse, Arline, of Highland Village, TX, and children, Ben and Abby; sisters, Ellen Scates Lieux of Baton Rouge and Lenny Scates Meadows, of Bueche, and their families.
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