Scott Edwin Morlock

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Scott Morlock, 56 passed on July 25, 2022. Born July 28,1965 in Ridgewood, NJ, to the late Frederick & Audrey Morlock and raised by Milton & Mary Jane Anson in New Berlin, NY.

Scott worked for 4 years at DNR and 30 years for USGS as a Civil Engineer. He most recently served as the Regional Director. Scott is survived by his loving wife, Helen Morlock. Also, surviving are brothers Mike (Theresa), Pat (Sharon) and numerous nieces/nephews.

Scott Morlock positively touched the lives of all he met. He had an insatiable and contagious curiosity. He loved learning, and his enthusiasm was irresistible. Whether sharing snakes as a volunteer at the Indianapolis Zoo, or explaining the pathways of underground aquifers of the Midwest Plains, or musing about the possibilities of a “multi-verse” universe, or calculating the delicate balance of a Cessna weight to thrust ratio, or the recounting in detail the hierarchy of warlords in Star Wars or listing planets visited in Star Trek, he happily swept others into the orbits of his interest.

He was intellectually brilliant: had he chosen, he clearly could have been a scientist. Yet to an equal degree he was humble, and always genuinely made everyone feel he could learn something from them regardless of their amount of formal schooling. He was as at ease digging a ditch with a farmer as discussing theories of astrophysics with a professor, and he made each feel respected and appreciated. He enjoyed being a handyman, applying his engineering mind to everyday household problems to be solved. He had a prodigious memory, both in recalling what he had read or heard — he could readily recite lyrics of songs after one or two hearings. (Those close to him can, with some chagrin, attest that he knew every line, intonation, and sound effect in “Convoy.”)

Scott loved the outdoors (In particular our national parks), all animals (domestic and wild), and thoroughly appreciated the incredible dynamics and serenity of the natural world. He began collecting critters at a young age (the “hidden snakes in the pants pocket tale” among his favorites). His many fish tanks over the years were a passion, and his relationships (and intimate conversations) with his fish (T-Loach, in particular) are legendary. He deeply understood and appreciated the intricacies and interwoven relationships of natural systems.

He was exceptional at breaking down high-brow scientific concepts into clear, simple language that made it understandable. This made him an ideal ambassador in his workplace and spokesperson for bettering our relationships with the world at large. In this way, he was a natural teacher, and ideally suited to his hard-earned and steadily increased responsibilities in the United States Geological Survey. He was a non-competitive, team-building problem-solver, with the goal of making lives better; that rare epitome of a true public servant. He was always encouraging and routinely inspired others to become their best selves, an unassuming leader.

He was vibrant, laughed often, had a huge heart, and loved life. He could make bad movies, boring gatherings, or challenging situations fun simply through his uplifting company. When asked why he learned to fly a plane, he said because he loved soaring in the clouds and because it was the hardest thing he had ever had to master. A fitting reflection of how throughout his life he overcame great hardships without complaint and transformed circumstances into positive opportunities. He was a consummate storyteller, whose infectious laughter percolated his tales, and roped everyone in the room into a communion of joy. He loved gentle practical jokes, and surprises, and he left joyful energies and a trail of light-heartedness everywhere.

Scott endured terrific hardships early on, and yet selflessly focused his many formidable talents on helping others. He was a bright light. Though a realist, he never spoke negatively of others. His magnetic smile and engaging presence lit up the room. He was fun-loving, earnest, and kind. He was a friend to everyone he met; a hard-working, trusted colleague; an endless student and wise and generous mentor; a dedicated and loyal son; a caring (and silly) uncle; a much-beloved brother, and in-law; and above all a very sweet and devoted husband to Helen, the love of his life.

Scott was an amazing, precious soul who will be terribly missed. Those of us who shared time with him were forever changed for the better, and are evermore graced by the gift of his vibrancy and loving presence. It’s now our task to honor the transformative lessons he embodied, by sharing forward his beautiful legacy of compassion and care for others.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Nature Conservancy, Mc Cloud Nature Park (Hendricks County), or Mental Health America of Indiana.