Fred T. (Ted) Muscott

Fred T. (Ted) Muscott entered into eternal rest on Sunday, April 4, 2004 at Country Care Adult Home in Othello at the age of 82. He was born April 25, 1921 to Fred and Ruth Muscott.

Ted graduated from John Rogers High School in Spokane in 1940. Following high school, he joined and worked for the U.S. Navy as an electrician in Umnak Aleutian Islands, then in Attu. His tour of duty ended in the Navy in 1945. He then worked for Boeing in Tacoma, Wash., prior to attending San Francisco Mortuary School of Science, where he graduated at the top of his class in 1947.

Ted married Jean Hughes Prince on November 12, 1950 in Opportunity, Wash. They had two sons, Douglas P. Muscott and David H. Prince and one daughter, Cynde R. Rea. Ted moved his family to Othello in 1957, where he built Muscott Funeral Home, in which he and Jean served the community for the next 30 years.

Ted developed a political calling and a deep heart for the Othello community. He threw his hat into the political ring and sat on the city council during the early 1960s and eventually became the city's mayor from 1964-70. He was instrumental in pioneering the city's first swimming pool and worked with the city engineers in his vision for the wide streets Othello enjoys today.

Ted served on numerous committees and service clubs. He was city port commissioner in the late 1970s, sat on the cemetery and parks and recreation boards, was a member of Kiwanis and Rotary club, and helped launch the first Rotary student exchange program.

Upon retirement from the funeral home, Ted's political passion was stirred again. He served another six years as Othello's mayor and retired from the political arena in 1992. He actually learned of the election results while traveling up the Amazon River.

Ted was a visionary and his idiom that he lived by was "as you think, you travel." This was a philosophy he taught to many who were close to him. Ted enjoyed poolside family gatherings and traveled extensively with his wife, Jean, as they discovered much of the U.S. on the back of his Gold Wing motorcycle.

Ted is survived by: his wife, Jean of 53 years; son, Douglas (Anita) Muscott and daughter, Cynde (Jerry) Rea, all of Othello; grandson, Tim (Kristen) Muscott and great-granddaughters Gwyneth and Amelia, of Redmond; grandson, Ryan (Kandace) Rea and great-grandson, Jackson, of Kirkland; granddaughter, Bonnie (Travis) Johnson and great-grandsons, Jared, Timothy and Thomas, of Moses Lake; and several brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Ruth, a sister, Jean and a son, David.

Memorial services and celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 25, 2004 at Othello Foursquare Church, N. Venice. Contributions may be made in Ted's name to Country Care Adult Home in Othello, for the purchase of specialized equipment.

You are our sunshine, you make us happy when skies are gray. We think you know, dear, how much we love you.