[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 176 (Wednesday, November 19, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2269]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING THE LIFE OF SCOTTY MENDOZA

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                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 19, 2008

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise with sadness today to honor Scotty 
Mendoza, who passed away on August 15, 2008, at the age of 88. Scotty 
was the matriarch of the ranching community around the Point Reyes 
Peninsula in Marin County, California, and a highly respected leader to 
the townsfolk. She led by passion and example, filling needs as she saw 
them and creating many local traditions in the process.
  Born Doris Scott in Woodland, California, she used the nickname 
Scotty bestowed on her by one of her early teachers. She met Joe 
Mendoza, a student at nearby U.C. Davis, while working at the soda 
fountain at the Woodland Hotel. They were married in 1941, moving 
shortly afterward to the family ranch on the Point Reyes Peninsula 
which had been purchased by Joe's father in 1899. She was a partner in 
the ranch with Joe her whole life, from doing the accounting to cooking 
for the many ranch hands.
  Scotty was many things--outspoken, funny, energetic, and hardworking. 
But mostly she will be remembered for how much she cared for people, 
especially children. While doting on her own family, she also 
championed other children and was known as Grandma Scotty to many. She 
was a 4-H leader for 40 years, teaching sewing to generations of girls, 
and founded the Inverness Garden Club Scholarship fund to raise money 
for local students to attend college.
  In 1949, Scotty and Joe joined with other ranching families to start 
Western Weekend, still the major community celebration in the Point 
Reyes area. It highlights the work of local 4-H groups and also 
includes a big parade that fills the town's Main Street. The parade 
features the Western Weekend Queen, based on a contest Scotty started 
to help sell raffle tickets for the event.
  It is hard to imagine how the community we see today would look 
without Scotty's participation in the many local organizations she was 
involved in: as a founder of West Marin Senior Services and the 
Inverness Garden Club, as a volunteer and organizer of the Jack Mason 
History Museum, and as a supporter in many others where her behind-the-
scenes work was always appreciated.
  Scotty is survived by her husband Joe, daughter and son-in-law Sharon 
and Steve Doughty, sons and daughters-in-law, Joey and Linda Mendoza 
and James and Luci Mendoza, seven grandchildren and eight great-
grandchildren (whom she called ``the eight greats'').
  Madam Speaker, Scotty Mendoza truly exemplifies the compassionate, 
can-do community spirit that becomes the fabric for our lives. It is an 
honor for me to have known her, her husband Joe, and many of her 
family. We'll miss you, Scotty.

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