Lonnie Scott Jr.; a Monessen youth sports volunteer and a high school official who worked WPIAL games; died of cancer Monday at McKeesport Hospital. He was 63.

Mr. Scott coached and organized youth sports; including football; basketball and baseball. When he was not coaching games; Mr. Scott could be found in the concession stand or maintaining the city’s athletic fields.

If it wasn’t for him; there might not be midget football or basketball in Monessen; said his friend Napoleon Madison; who also volunteers his time to youth sports in Monessen. When people think of Lonnie; they think of youth sports in Monessen. He was strictly out for the kids.

Mr. Madison said Mr. Scott had a tough exterior; but he also had a soft spot in his heart for the children of Monessen. If one of the young boys in the baseball program needed a pair of cleated shoes; Mr. Scott would pay for them out of his own pocket. If one of the boys had not been fed; he would make sure they would not go home hungry.

He would make sure all the kids got to and from practice; too; Mr. Madison said. He used to pick them up in his work truck; just load them in the back of his truck. I told him it wasn’t worth him losing his job over it; but that’s how important youth sports was to him.

Mr. Scott officiated WPIAL sports contests; mostly in Westmoreland; Washington and Fayette counties.

Mr. Scott served a four-year stint in the Navy after graduating from Monessen High School. He worked for Allegheny Power for 39 years before retiring.

Mr. Scott is survived by his longtime companion Gina Thorpe of Monessen; and children Chad Scott of White Oak; Anthony Scott of West Newton; Marley Scott Faulks of Pittsburgh and Loni Scott; Vincent Campbell and Alicia Campbell; all of Monessen.

He also is survived by brothers James Scott of Pittsburgh and Kevin Scott of Jacksonville; Fla.; and sisters Lorraine Rhodes of Camp Hill; Pa.; Frances Scott of Harrisburg; Valarie Jones of Pittsburgh; Marsha Green of Aurora; Colo.; and Joyce Scott of Pittsburgh.

Visitation will take place from 2 to 8 p.m. today in Mount Calvary Baptist Church; 230 Reed Ave.; Monessen. A service will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday in the church.