LaVerde E. “Bud” Scarr passed away on March 21, 2017. He was born in Ambrose, ND on August 29, 1932 to Harold and Judith (Bloom) Scarr.
He grew up in Alamo, ND and after graduating high school, joined the Air Force, where he proudly served in the Security Service as a cryptographer in Libya, N. Africa and in San Antonio, TX from 1952 to 1956.
Bud acquired a BS in Business Education at Dickinson State College in ND, a Master’s at Montana State Univ. in Bozeman, followed by a doctorate in Educational Administration from the Univ. of Montana in Missoula.
He began his career in education as a teacher/principal in Savage, MT (1959-62), then as superintendent of schools for both Lambert, MT (1962-65) and Columbia Falls, MT (1965-69). From 1969 to 1974, he served as the Assistant State Superintendent of Public Instruction for MT. He then moved to Washington State where he served as superintendent of schools in both Port Angeles (1974-77) and the Lake Washington School District (1977-1996) where he retired at the end of a notable career. Bud was honored in 1995 as the WA State Superintendent of the Year, and was also one of four finalists for the National Superintendent of the Year. In 2000, the L.E. Scarr Resource Center at the LWSD was named for him in honor of his service and dedication to his students and the district.
Bud was preceded in death by his parents, brother Hilton, and son Roger. He is survived by Betty, his wife of 63 years, sisters Elaine (Archie) Kress and Judy (Gary) Martin, sister-in-law Beatrice Scarr, sons Robert (Lorri) and Rodney (Sean), and seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Bud will be remembered for his quick wit and his love for and dedication to his family. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, river rafting, and golfing as well as spending time at his MT ranch. He will be greatly missed.
A private ceremony took place at the Yellowstone National Cemetery in Laurel, MT on March 31, 2017.
Donations/memorials may be made to the Lake Washington Parent Teachers Assoc. Council Scholarship Committee; “L.E. Scarr Scholarship” P.O. Box 97093 Redmond, WA 98052.
