Earl Oliver Scott Jr., 85, of Virginia, IL, passed away peacefully on March 8, 2025, at approximately 2:30 a.m. at Jacksonville Skilled Nursing and Rehab.

Born on September 22, 1939, at the Scott family residence in Jacksonville, Earl was the son of Earl Oliver Scott Sr. and Anna Louise Scott. He grew up surrounded by love and laughter alongside his siblings: Carolyn Brannan and her late husband Dennis, Mary Drogan and her husband James, Ruth Scott, Bill Scott and his late wife Patti, and John Scott and his late wife Peggy.

A proud graduate of Virginia High School, Earl later served six years in the Air National Guard before retiring from Oscar Mayer/Excel.

Earl married the love of his life, Janet Faye Davis, and together they shared 61 wonderful years of marriage. Throughout their decades together, they built a beautiful life centered around love, family, and shared passions. Earl was a devoted father to Chris Scott (wife Debbie) of Peoria, Kevin Scott (wife Nancy) of Live Oak, FL, and Steven Scott of Virginia. His greatest joy was being a grandfather to Aniya Scott (26), Omar Clements (20), Brig Scott (17), and Ariel Scott (13), and a proud great-grandfather to Rickenzo Pullen Jr.

Earl lived life with passion and a deep love for his community. He was an avid Chicago Cubs fan from birth and could often be found cheering on his team or attending Virginia High School Redbird games. He was also a dedicated fan of University of Illinois football and the Chicago Bears, never missing a chance to support his teams. Some of his fondest memories were spent attending games with Janet and their sons, Chris, Kevin, and Steve.

Beyond sports, Earl had a love for horse racing and fishing, but his heart was always with the Little League teams he coached for 16 years. One of his proudest accomplishments was leading the Virginia Little League All-Star Team to a championship victory. He often said, "The best years of my life were coaching Little League."

Earl also had a soft spot for his three beloved huskies, whom he loved taking on long walks around town. They were more than just pets—they were family, and he never missed a chance to spoil them.

Earl was a longtime member of the First Presbyterian Church of Virginia, where he found faith, friendship, and a sense of belonging.

He will be deeply missed but forever remembered for his unwavering devotion to family, love of the game, and the kindness he shared with all who knew him. His legacy lives on in the hearts of those who loved him and in the countless young athletes he mentored over the years.

A celebration of Earl's life will be held 11 a.m. Monday, March 17, 2025, at the First Presbyterian Church of Virginia, with burial at Walnut Ridge Cemetery. The family will meet friends 10-11 a.m. prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or the Virginia Little League Association, honoring his lifelong love of children and baseball. The Buchanan & Cody Funeral Home in Virginia is caring for the family. Condolences may be left at buchanancody.com.