Lauren Whitney Freed Scott

1964 ~ 2022

Obituary Photo for Lauren Whitney Freed Scott < >

Service:

March 3, 2022
12:30 PM
Cathedral of the Madeleine, 331 East South Temple, Salt Lake City

Lauren Whitney Freed Scott, 1964-2022.

Lauren Whitney Scott died on February 9, 2022, at the age of 57. Born March 31, 1964, in Salt Lake City, Lauren was a sixth-generation Utah native. She was the eldest child and only daughter of James Whitney Freed and Mary Kathleen (Mary Kay) Carlquist McDermott. Lauren grew up in Salt Lake City and particularly loved her education and her friends at both St. Vincent de Paul Parish School and Judge Memorial Catholic High School. The friendships she developed at these places remained for her entire life.

In 1986, Lauren graduated with a B.A. in Communications, with a minor in History from Stanford University. Lauren participated in dorm musicals; embraced her love of France by traveling and studying abroad during her junior year; devoured every classic or avant-garde film that showed on campus; and indulged her creativity by discovering a passion for photography that earned honors for a senior year thesis.
While at Stanford, Lauren met Larry Scott. They fell in love and were married in 1986 shortly after Lauren’s graduation. They shared 35 beautiful years and a mutual love for the writing of PG Wodehouse. Lauren never tired of quoting Wodehouse’s line to Larry, “She has brains enough for two, which is the exact quantity the girl who marries you will need.”

Lauren had a tumultuous career in Silicon Valley working her way through, around, up and past all the barriers thrown at women during the early years of the technology boom. She worked in various aspects of project and program management at Oracle, Informix, and Kennandy. As always she developed lifelong friends at every stop. During a mid-career review, Lauren decided to indulge her undying love of books and libraries by earning a Master's Degree from San Jose State in Library and Information Sciences. This eventually induced her to move back to Stanford University and work for several years on the technical side of the University Libraries, helping to build databases and implement new products for cataloging and searching Stanford’s enormous collection. Lauren loved her Goodreads app where she carefully listed all the books she had read each year since 2010 - at last count it listed 1745 books completed, including 123 just in 2021. She still has 1175 books listed she wants to read, which probably frustrates her to leave such a list unread.

Lauren was a devoted attendee of the classic Stanford Theatre in Palo Alto that was dedicated to the “Golden Age” of Hollywood movies. Since the reopening of the Theatre in 1987, Lauren rarely missed going to at least one movie in any festival program they have held since. She shared with Larry a particular love for the classic Dick Powell, Myrna Loy movie, “The Thin Man”. They would refer to each other as “Nick” or “Nora” around the cocktail hour when they shared a Manhattan or Martini. Lauren loved her little calico cat and named her “Nora” too.
Lauren embraced her love of the outdoors with hiking, skiing, biking, and golf. She was an enthusiastic member of the Carolwood Society, a group dedicated to preserving the legacy of Walt Disney's railroads. She was mad about all things Disney and loved to indulge her passion with trips to Disneyland and Disneyworld.

One of her deepest commitments in her life was to her Catholic faith. She cherished her upbringing in the Church in Utah and transferred her devotion to Nativity Parish in Menlo Park, California where she served as a lector and eucharistic minister, often bringing communion to the elderly and sick of the parish. The beautiful light of her life shone on so many people in so many ways.

She is predeceased by her parents James Whitney Freed and Mary Kathleen (Mary Kay) Carlquist McDermott; her beloved grandparents Beatrice Carlquist, John H. (Jack) Calquist, Catherine Freed, and Richard Freed. She leaves behind her beloved husband of 35 years, Larry James Scott; a brother, Michael Freed; her aunts, Pam Carlquist, Karen Payne; an uncle John Carlquist and his wife Margareth; Cousins: Jonathan Payne and wife Cindy and their children Hayden, Walker and Anders; Tony Payne; Katie Schwab and her children Alexa and Zachary; John David Carlquist; Will Carlquist and his wife Sule. Later in Lauren’s life, her parents remarried and her mother is survived by John McDermott and her father is survived by Karen Freed. Lauren is also survived by Larry’s family; his mother Heather Scott; sisters, Valerie Scott and children Evan and Adam; Linda Bourne and child Tillie (Lauren’s Goddaughter).

Services will be held at Cathedral of the Madeleine, Salt Lake City, March 3, 2022, at 12:30 p.m. Lauren will be laid to rest at Mt. Olivet Cemetery beside her father, grandparents and other family members.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in her honor can be made to the Cathedral of the Madeline fund drive - https://utcotm.org/support-us, or Best Friends Utah - https://utah.bestfriends.org/get-involved/donate


Guestbook/Condolences

What a bright star in this life, you lit up the sky with your smile.
I am glad to have called you friend, and will read a good book in your honor.
Your friend,
Marshall


- Marshall Palm

I graduated with Lauren but didn't really know her. Very sad to hear this news; condolences to all her family members and those close to her.


- Joseph Bullough

I am so sorry for your loss. Lauren was always a bright star and will be so missed. She left too soon. My thoughts and prayers are with you.


- Michele Pilling

I shared 4 years of high school CP (home room) and some classes with Lauren. We were friendly but not close, we didn't hang together. I got to see her again at a couple of high school reunions, and she was so fun, welcoming, and a joy to be around, she made me feel like we had been best friends during school, months rather than decades ago. I was deeply saddened by her loss, and I offer my condolences to Lauren's family and close friends. Lauren was a wonderful person and will be missed and remembered fondly by all who knew her.


- Shawn Hokanson

I am so sorry to hear such sad news. Lauren and I were close friends in high school and college. She was so brilliant and beautiful and vibrant. It's impossible to think she is gone at such a young age. My heart goes out to Larry and all of her extended family, I know she will be terribly missed.


- Maria Chambers

I'm so sorry for Lauren, her family and all her friends. Her smile says so much. I remember that from the first time I met her at Judge. We were not close friends but I remember her well for always being so kind and optimistic. I'm sure she prepared well and is being taken care of as she watches over those she loved.
I'm sorry I can't make it to her service. I'll be thinking of her and sending prayers.


- Maureen Harte