Tom Skinner

Services are scheduled at 3:00 P.M. Wednesday, December 10, at Terpening Son Mortuary for Navy Chief Warrant Officer Retired Tommie Watson Skinner, Artesia, New Mexico. Mr. Skinner, 61, died Sunday, December 7, 2003 at his home. Rev. Jean Riley and David Skinner will officiate at the services with burial in the Santa Fe National Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Jerry Reed, Josh Willis, Martin Lopez, Matt Derrick, Paul Smith, Tony Parris, and Jack Meador. Tom was born August 7, 1942 in Midland, Texas; the son of Lois Watson Skinner and Mary Nash Skinner. He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1960 and served on several ships around the world until his retirement in 1981. On February 7, 1970 he was married to Betty Kay Meador in Amarillo, Texas. He and his family came to Artesia in August of 1985 from Charleston, S.C. He worked for TMCNova Bus in Roswell, N.M. for several years and was a member of the Baptist denomination. He was preceded in death by his father and by nieces Mandy Edwards and Terry Reed. Survivors include his wife Betty Kay Skinner of the family home; his mother Mary Skinner of Fort Worth, Texas; sons Tommy Lee Skinner of Artesia and John David Skinner of Fort Worth; brothers David Skinner and wife Rhonda of Fort Worth and Bobby Skinner and wife Barbara of Austin, Texas; sisters Linda Willis , Judy Parris and husband Ray, Mary Edwards and husband Roger, and Nancy Saunders and husband Steve all of Fort Worth; a granddaughter Shablee Denise Skinner of Artesia; 15 nieces and nephews; and six great-nieces and nephews. Also surviving are his mother-in-law Margaret Meador Roberts and husband J.D. of Artesia; brother-in-law Jack Meador of Eunice, N.M.; and sister-in-law Rhonda Lester and husband Earl of Lomita, Calif. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Ocotillo Building Fund at First National Bank Trust Dept., P.O. Box AA, Artesia, NM 88211.