MAY 03
2012
Ricky Scearce Jr.
60, collapsed after a heart attack during a girls’ softball
playoff game between Cinco Ranch and MacArthur High Schools, said his daughter,
Carla Holycross of Fulshear. The game took place at the Aldine Independent
School District Softball Complex, 1865 Aldine Bender Road. “He died doing
what he loved,” Holycross said. “For him there was probably no better
way to have departed. He was out there being part of the game he loved.”
Scearce, who was working Friday as first‑base umpire, collapsed during the
game. His daughter said she thought he had died immediately of a heart attack,
although he was taken to Memorial Hermann Northeast Hospital. After retiring in
2008 as athletic director at Memorial Parkway Junior High in the Katy school
district, Scearce continued to referee and umpire games two or three times a
week from October to May, his daughter said. He had umpired another playoff
game a week before his death, she said. “Athletics was his love,” she
said. “He enjoyed reaching out to kids and trying to teach them lessons of
life through sports. This was his way of giving back to that.” Holycross
said her father had no evident health problems. He is also survived by his
wife, Judy Scearce, and daughter Carla Smith of Tyler, who is Holycross’ twin
sister, and four grandchildren. The family had not made final plans for a
memorial service, Holycross said Saturday afternoon. In lieu of flowers, the
family would like memorial donations to go toward a scholarship fund for Katy
school district athletes, to be set up Monday. The family appreciates the
support of coaches and players from both Aldine and Katy school districts and
others who went to the hospital to be with Scearce’s family, his daughter said.
“It meant a lot to our family,” she said.
