Scott Keith Starkey

Scott Keith Starkey, 58, of Tyler, Texas, answered his final call on May 16, 2026, after spending a lifetime doing what he did best: helping everyone else before himself. Scott was born on September 7, 1967, in Longview, Texas, and graduated from Chapel Hill High School in 1986. He followed in his father’s footsteps as a second-generation firefighter with the Tyler Fire Department, where he dedicated 26 years of service. In true Scott fashion, he also managed to become the only firefighter in Tyler to work the same shift at the same station his entire career, mainly because once he found people willing to tolerate his nonstop talking and sarcasm, he wasn’t about to leave. Scott never met a stranger, and if you made the mistake of saying hello, you were probably committing to at least a 45-minute conversation (whether you realized it or not). He could tell you random facts no one asked for, remember details from twenty years ago, and carry on a conversation long after everyone else thought it had ended. When Scott wasn’t at the fire station, he was building something, fixing something, repurposing something, or starting another side business. Depending on the year, Scott could show up as a landscaper, sprinkler installer, concrete guy, or metal fabricator. He was also a mechanic, locksmith, contractor, and professional collector of things everyone else would have thrown away. Cooking and experimenting in the kitchen was another one of his passions, although the results didn’t always match his confidence level. He especially cherished sharing his September 7th birthday with two of his grandchildren, something that meant the world to him. Scott loved fiercely and worked tirelessly, especially for his wife, Tina. When she dreamed of having horses like the ones she loved as a child, Scott built her a ranch and filled it with horses, including the Friesians she adored. When she needed space to craft and create, he built that too. Everything he did was an act of love disguised as hard work. Scott was preceded in death by his parents, Stanley and Gerry Starkey, and his son, Michael Starkey. Those left to honor his legacy are his loving wife, Tina Starkey; daughter, Kaitlyn Winter and husband Steven, along with their children Abby, Kenzie, Christopher, and David; son, Randall Starkey; stepson, Dallas Weston and wife Jessica, along with their children Declan, Kian, Callan, and Rowan; stepdaughter, Chelsea Cohen and husband Josh, along with their daughter Ellison; stepdaughter, Ciera Bockowski and husband Todd, along with their children Madison and Mason; and sister, Carol Starkey. He is also survived by the countless brothers and sisters of the Tyler Fire Department who became family over his 26 years of service. If Scott taught us anything, it’s that life should be lived loudly, generously, and with at least one sarcastic comment ready at all times. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, you consider finishing one of Scott’s projects though realistically, nobody knows where he left off. Services will be held on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at 10:30 am at Flint Baptist Church with Rev. Jeremy Driver officiating. Interment will follow in Bascom Cemetery in Tyler under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be Daniel Bailey, James Branch, Jesse Crotty, John Rains, Larry Crowson, and Lynn Statham. Visitation is scheduled on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, from 5:00-7:00 pm at Stewart Family Funeral Home, 7525 Old Jacksonville Highway, in Tyler. Because no one ever walked away from Scott without a story, the family would love to receive letters, memories, and mementos celebrating his life. They may be mailed to P.O. Box 106, Bullard, TX, 75757.

Scott Keith Starkey

September 7, 1967 - May 16, 2026