Andrew "A.J." Scott, III , 63, of China, Texas formerly of Beaumont, passed away on Thursday, February 2, 2023.

The Celebration Service will be at 12:00 noon on Saturday, February 11, 2023, at Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church located at 1175 Isla Street in Beaumont, Texas. A public viewing will be held on Friday, February 10, 2023, from 12:00 Noon until 5:00 p.m. at Mercy Funeral Home Chapel and visitation on Saturday, February 11, from 10:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. at the church. The Military Honors burial service will be at a later date at the Houston National Cemetery in Houston, Texas, under the direction of Mercy Funeral Home in Beaumont, Texas.

A.J. was the fifth child (and first son) of eleven born to the union of Andrew Joseph Scott, Jr. and Ida Mary Vallair Scott on September 30, 1959, in Beaumont, Texas. He accepted Christ as his Savior and was baptized at Mount Gilead Missionary Baptist Church at an early age. He was preceded in death by his father, A.J. Scott, Jr., siblings, Joanie Marie and John Alex Scott; fathers-in-law, Steward Jones, III and James Harmon.

A.J. graduated from French High School with the Class of 1978. He immediately entered the U. S. Army and served his country until 1982 returning home to Beaumont. He developed a love for cooking from his Army assignment, working as a chef and short-order cook at several major chain restaurants throughout Beaumont and Houston with his last location, The Diamond S Restaurant in China.

A.J.'s life, love and laughter will be forever cherished in the lives of his wife of twenty-four years, Linda Gail Jones Scott of China, Texas; son, Jason Michael Scott (fiancé DeAndrea Smith) of Houston: mother, Ida Scott; mothers-in-law: Dorothy Harmon and Viola Jones; siblings, Linda Parker (Ferguson Sr.) , Cathey  Billups (Joseph) , Mary  Young (Patrick Sr.) , Laura  Grimes (Rev. Kenneth Sr.) , Jackie Scott, Michael  Scott (Rochanda) of Houston, Mattie Lumpford (Rev. Robert Jr.) , Rae Lynn  Hawthorne (Rev. Manuel) of Porter, Texas; four grandchildren, Jason, Jacob, London and Andrew Scott; Godson, Dan "D.J." Sims; brothers-in-law; Leonard "Bubba"  Jones (Patricia) , Rev. Troy  Jones (Shannon) , sisters-in-law: Patricia  Hampton (Alfred) , Debbie Thomas (Edward) , Paula  George (Mack) , Sandra  Nixon (Nick) , Ethel  Bibbs (Rev. Ronald) , Paula  Rogers (Demetrius) ; aunts, Annie Bell Guidry, Hazel Beloney, Virginia Hardin, Shirley Sc ott and Bobbie  George (Vernis Jr.) ; uncle, Andrew Vallair; many, many nephews, nieces, cousins, and a host of friends.