Dad

Jim Skaggs came into this world on July 24th, 1928. A World War II vet, he served on the USS Stark County (LST-1134).

He loved music, especially Blue Grass music, teaching himself to play guitar, fiddle, and mandolin. He did not read a note of music but could play almost anything after hearing it once or twice.

He was active up until his early nineties, riding his bicycle 10-20 miles 2 or 3 times a week.

He loved the outdoors, and hunting. Tramping through the woods more to enjoy nature than to shoot. He never brought a deer home but he brought back plenty of stories of animals he saw, including trophy bucks. Jim was a wonderful story teller

He loved his kids and grandkids unconditionally. He loved babies and would hold them for hours.

A man who worked with his hands he could build or fix just about anything. He once brought boxes of parts home and built a motorcycle and a mini bike for his two youngest kids.

He was a man of solid ethics and integrity and passed on those virtues to his kids and grandkids, teaching them self-reliance and self-accountability.

He had the loudest whistle that could be heard for miles, bringing the kids home to dinner from wherever they were.

Jim was not perfect. He was human. He made mistakes, as we all do.

Jim Skaggs left this life to be with Jesus on July 10th, 2025. He is survived by his wife Martha Skaggs, children Cathy Meadows, Karen Hayden, Lisa Willis, Jimmy Skaggs and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren, and his sisters Sandra Reynor and Donna Collins.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents Roosevelt Skaggs and Beatrice Morrison Skaggs. His first wife Betty Morris Skaggs. His second wife Marion Kendrick Skaggs. His brothers Michael and Bill Skaggs, and sisters Beverly Joan Skaggs Anderson and Mary Skaggs Lemaster.