1944 - 2025

Our Friend Bert

“He loves his town: the area, the people, and he loved being a writer” says wife Linda

Linda and Bert Scent.

Photo Submitted

Posted Sunday, November 16, 2025 11:46 am

Obituary - James A. ‘Bert’ Scent

Mr. James A. “Bert” Scent, 81, of Barbourville, passed away Friday evening, November 14, 2025 at his home. He was born July 19, 1944 in Barbourville, the son of the late Albert B. and Lydia Lanien Walker Scent.

Bert was a long-time photographer and reporter with the Barbourville Mountain Advocate and a member of the First Baptist Church of Barbourville where attended the BALL Club the Fishermen Sunday School Class. Bert also served his community as a member of the Barbourville City Council for 16 years.

On February 28, 1976, he united in marriage with the love of his life, Linda Scherrer, and to this union two children were born.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Janet Hume; mother-in-law, Marcella Scherrer; sisters-in-law, Harriet and Janette Scherrer and brothers-in-law, Ronnie Glahn and Wayne Scherrer.

Survivors include his loving wife of over 49 years, Linda Scent of Barbourville; beloved sons, Micah Scent and wife, Missy, of Corbin and Jonah Scent and wife, Marissa, of Barbourville; a sister, Judy Wilson of Barbourville; treasured grandchildren, Bailyn, Jonas, Graham and Grace; several nieces and nephews that he dearly loved; among other loved ones and dear friends.

Barbourville won’t ever feel quite the same without Bert in it. He was the biggest celebrity this town ever had — not because he sought it out, but because he shined such a bright light on everyone else. There wasn’t a person in Barbourville he didn’t photograph, wave at, tell a joke to, or write a story about. If you lived here, Bert made sure you were seen.

We all wish Bert was here to write his own story. Nobody could write the way he did. He had a way of turning a simple Tuesday into something worth remembering. He made people feel important, and that was his gift. His lens captured people in ways they’d never seen themselves before.

In addition to his photography business and working at the Barbourville Mountain Advocate, he loved his time working at Central Elementary School. He loved his students and they loved him.

Bert loved a good joke, and he loved to visit. If he stopped by, you might as well pull up a chair — the conversation was going to be good, and it was going to last awhile. He never met a stranger. He also loved for people to know he loved them. He would yell across a crowded room to a friend who was hard of hearing, “Been bragging about your cooking Nora!,” to which she would say, “What!?” and the hilarity of the back and forth would ensue. More than anything, Bert was a good man, a good husband, a good father and a good grandfather. His family was his proudest headline, his favorite story to tell, and the place he poured his heart. Bert loved Linda. There are really not enough words to do justice to the way he felt about her. He flashed that mischievous smile and threw a peace sign across the room and the rest was a love story for the ages.

He loved his boys fiercely and raised them to be good men. He took them fishing and taught them baseball and loved to beat them in ping pong, but he would sacrifice to give them anything they needed. Seeing them as husbands and fathers gave him joy and made him proud.

His grandchildren, Bailyn Jonas, Graham and Grace were the light in his eyes. When they were small, he would take their hand and push it against his cheek full of air and it would make a Donald Duck noise and the kids would giggle with delight.

We’ll miss him more than words can say. But everyone in this town carries a piece of Bert — in a photo he took, a story he wrote, a laugh he shared, or a moment he made special. Although he is physically gone from us, his spirit and legacy still lives in this town in the hearts of those that loved him.

His funeral service will be conducted in the chapel of the Knox Funeral Home Wednesday, November 19 at 2 P.M. with Dr. Fred Cummings officiating. He will be laid to rest in the Barbourville Cemetery.

Casket bearers will be Kent Wilson, Steve Smith, Tim Carter, Tim Davis, John White, Justin Powell and Josh DeBorde.

Friends may visit at the funeral home Wednesday after 11 A.M. until the funeral hour.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Knox Funeral Home.

By Regina Bargo, Features Writer

The following story appeared in the January 19, 2023 issue of The Mountain Advocate. Longtime Advocate photographer and writer Bert Scent passed away at his home on Friday, November 14, 2025. Funeral arrangements and his obituary will be published once they are available.

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He is a pillar of strength, compassion, and faithfulness in our community. Chances are that you will see his smile before anything else, when he walks in the room. Who doesn’t love and respect Bert Scent? As it turns out, the feeling is mutual. Bert’s wife Linda assured, “He loves his town: the area, the people, and he loved being a writer.”

Barbourville is where Bert grew up. As a youth, he played football and basketball for Barbourville City School. Linda chuckled, “Being a short player probably hindered his chance at being a great player.” However, Bert never forgot the time he spent and the lessons he learned from Coach Herb Tye.

In 1975, Bert married the love of his life, Linda Scherrer. The two settled on Walker Lane in the house that was Bert’s grandmothers. The couple still live there to this day. Linda and Bert have two children, Micah and Jonah. The boys spent much of their young days traveling with their parents to Reds baseball games, museums, the conservatory, and such in Cincinnati where Linda’s mother lived.

Many still remember Bert’s time, 38 years, as a writer and photographer at The Mountain Advocate, when it was owned by the Wilson family’s Advocate Publishing Company. In addition, he spent many hours in the long forgotten “dark room.” Wife Linda commented, “Bert loved writing about the ordinary everyday people, rather than the well-known people. He was moved by their personal stories and developed lifelong friendships.”

“Bert doesn’t know a stranger, and his love for people is infectious,” commented Mountain Advocate publisher Charles Myrick. “Bert is one of my most favorite people and especially to have worked with at the newspaper. It’s been a few years now since he left the paper, but I still miss his columns. A lot of people do.”

Folks all around this area have cherished photos of weddings, showers, graduations, births, and so forth displayed in their homes because of the long hours Bert spent taking photos in his spare time. He was definitely the “go to guy” for all special occasion photos. Often, you would find Linda thoughtfully involved in the process also.

During this time, Bert also developed a love for tennis. He spent many hours playing this sport with good friends such as Richard Trimble, Wilbert Evans, Allen Green, Bill Jones, and Ed Sellards.

Nowadays, the Scents are enjoying time spent with their grandchildren: Bailyn (16), Jonas (12), Graham (7), and Grace (5). They like to go on hikes and eat out. Basically, Pop pop and Maw Maw like to be involved in whatever the kids are taking part in.

Unfortunately, life as Bert knew it, changed about three years ago. Linda stated, “It started one day when he said something and it came out sounding funny.” They laughed and didn’t think much of it at the time, but the speech problem continued to worsen. They wondered if he had a brain tumor or had had a stroke.

The final diagnosis was Primary Progressive Aphasia. Dr. Khan described it as a rare nervous system syndrome that affects the person’s ability to communicate. Some cases are worse than others. Readers may recall actor Bruce Willis stepped away from acting in 2022. Like Bert, Bruce was diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia. The issues in communicating made working extraordinarily difficult forcing Willis to retire. Fortunately for Bert, he is still able to care for himself. He still drives, does yard work, and goes to church. He even makes Linda breakfast sometimes!

Through it all, Bert’s work in the community has never stopped. Even after his diagnosis, he worked as an aide in the school system until he was no longer needed by the student. Lately, he helps in the lunchroom and does other odd jobs as needed.

The impact that Bert has had on the lives of the citizens of Barbourville could never be measured. Likewise, the strength, faithfulness, and compassion that he has shown could never be forgotten.

Obituary for Bert Scent