Gretchen Schafer Scott—dear wife, loving mother, devoted grandmother, and caring friend to many—passed away in Savannah, Georgia, on September 12, 2026. She was 86.

Gretchen loved her family and friends wholeheartedly and spent her life nurturing these relationships with tender kindness. Those fortunate enough to call her a friend knew her loyalty, generosity, warmth, and gift for making others feel special.

The daughter of Agnes Ball Schafer and Erwin August Schafer, Gretchen was born on July 19, 1940, in Indianapolis, Indiana, and grew up on the city’s Northside. Attending Shortridge High School for two years, she was proud to be a member of North Central High School’s first graduating class—in 1958. Gretchen participated enthusiastically in school life and even helped write the school fight song. During high school, she also served on the College Board at L.S. Ayres, where she met the love of her life, Frederick Corya Scott.

Gretchen attended the University of Colorado Boulder and Indiana University and was a member of Pi Beta Phi Sorority. On June 24, 1961, she married Fred, who, for 56 years, was thrilled to be her loving husband, closest friend, and partner in untold adventures.

Gretchen and Fred moved to Crawfordsville, Indiana, where they welcomed their daughter, Lisa—before heading east to Cambridge, Massachusetts, where Fred attended Harvard Business School. They later returned to Indiana, living first in Columbus—where their son, Cory, joined the family—and then in Indianapolis, where Fred joined Eli Lilly. When the couple agreed Fred should accept a transfer to work in New York City, they settled in New Canaan, Connecticut. There, Gretchen and Fred raised their children, and continued to build a full, rewarding, and happy life together.

In 1972, Fred’s work with Lilly’s Elizabeth Arden took the family to London, where they lived until 1976. It was there that Gretchen and Fred’s shared passion for travel, fine dining, arts, and adventure truly blossomed. Together, they explored Spain, Paris, and the Loire Valley, and traveled behind the Iron Curtain to the Soviet Union. The family took full advantage of weekends, school holidays, and summers to explore the United Kingdom and traverse the European continent.

After returning from London, the Scotts once again made their home in New Canaan. Eventually, Fred’s post-corporate career in academia gave the couple exciting opportunities to live in Boston and Kyoto, Japan. In 1997, they retired to The Landings on Skidaway Island, Georgia, but this transition only seemed to enhance their appetite for adventure: Gretchen and Fred continued to travel the globe together.

Gretchen’s life was distinguished by her unwavering devotion to her friends and her community. She was a tireless volunteer at her children’s schools—both stateside and abroad— and was an active member of the Junior League and the Congregational Church. She was also a skilled docent at the New Canaan Historical Society, where she demonstrated the traditional crafts of carding, spinning, and weaving. In her leisure time, Gretchen enjoyed being a talented golfer and bridge player.

Wherever she lived or volunteered, Gretchen formed deep and enduring friendships. She remembered the important moments, stayed in touch across the years and miles, and made the people she loved feel truly cherished. Ever elegant, Gretchen’s graciousness and poise are traits that will never leave the minds of those who knew her.

Her commitment to her friends and community was surpassed only by her devotion to her family. Above all, Gretchen was a loving wife and mother. She saw her children off to school each morning after a delicious breakfast—often including one of her “pretty little eggs,” and was always there to welcome them home when they stepped off the school bus. She even pulled a few all-nighters typing term papers. She was Fred’s greatest supporter and dearest friend, her children’s most loyal advocate, and the finest role model of unconditional love they could have imagined.

To her grandchildren, she was their beloved Mimi. They will always remember her seemingly bottomless “granny bag,” filled with toys and treats to make meals in restaurants more fun. Her soothing habit of playing “farmer on the back” with her grandkids (and kids!) as they drifted off to sleep is forever etched in their minds. She delighted in each of her grandchildren and made them feel deeply and individually loved.

Gretchen and Fred treasured summers with their children, grandchildren, Mike, and Marianne Schafer (Gretchen’s brother and sister-in-law, respectively) in the Bay of Islands in Ontario, Canada. Gretchen was the family’s “celebrator-in-chief,” organizing summertime gatherings to mark important milestones: birthdays, graduations, marriages, births, “Christmases and Thanksgivings in July,” and countless other happy occasions. If there was a reason to bring the family together, Gretchen found it—and made it memorable.

In later years, Gretchen faced scleroderma with remarkable courage and grace. Though the disease brought increasing challenges, she met them with the same strength, optimism, and determination that had defined her life. She remained deeply engaged with the people she loved, grateful for each visit and conversation, and continued to find joy in family gatherings and the everyday moments that mattered most. Throughout her illness, she was sustained by the devotion of her family and the compassionate care of her doctors, nurses, and personal aides. The family extends its heartfelt gratitude to the doctors at the Medical University of South Carolina and to all who cared for Gretchen with tenderness and devotion throughout her courageous final chapter.

Gretchen is survived by her children and their spouses, Lisa and David Allison of Savannah, Georgia, and Cory Scott and Julie DeVoe of Indianapolis, Indiana; and by her five grandchildren and their partners: Schafer Allison and Anna Welling; Charlotte Scott and José Calongé; Reese and Madi Allison; Scott Allison and Kelli Trumpy; and Harper Scott and Connor Mishoe.

She is also survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Mike and Marianne Schafer; and her nephews, Matt Schafer and his wife, Laila; and Ben Schafer. Gretchen also deeply loved Matt and Laila’s daughter, Coralee, who held a special place in her heart. She was predeceased by her beloved and ever-devoted husband, Fred, and her grandson, Thayer David Allison.

A memorial reception honoring Gretchen will be held in Savannah, Georgia, on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at The Marshes of Skidaway Island from noon to 2:00 p.m. A Celebration of Life will be held in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at Brecon United Methodist Church at 11:00 a.m. Her interment will take place at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis, Indiana, in the summer of 2027.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites memorial contributions to support Scleroderma research. Please make your check payable to “MUSC Foundation” and mail to:

MUSC Foundation

18 Bee Street MSC 450 Charleston, SC 29425

Please note that the gift is for the Scleroderma Center Endowment fund #3898 in memory of Gretchen Scott.