NEWSPAPER OBITUARY FOR LARRY DONALD SKAGGS
Tahlequah, OK- Funeral services for Larry Donald Skaggs will be held on Monday, April 15th, 2013 at 10:00 AM at the Park Hill Baptist Church with Reverend John Lee officiating. Visitation will be held on Sunday from 1:00 pm until 6:00 pm at the Reed-Culver Chapel. Interment will be held at Cobb Family Cemetery near Briggs, OK. Services have been entrusted to Reed-Culver Funeral Home of Tahlequah.
Larry Donald Skaggs was born on September 6th, 1957 in Stella, MO, the son of Donald Edwin and Eva Loretta (Peace) Skaggs. Larry grew up a short while in Noel, MO, but primarily in Tahlequah, OK with his sister and dear friend, Brenda. After graduating from Tahlequah High School in 1975, he attended Northeastern State University where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology. He honorably served the state of Oklahoma as a probation and parole officer for more than 20 years. Service to others was a continual theme in Larry's life.
In 1995, at a good friend's home, Larry met the love of his life, Deborah. On May 16th, 1996, he and Deborah were wed. Larry gained an instant family in the three children he helped Deborah raise: Leslie, Lindsey and Joshua Martin. Larry was a God send to his kids and he will be forever remembered as the man who loved and corrected, supported and taught them, and who loved their mother with everything that was within him. The order of Larry's life was, without a doubt, Jesus first, Debbie second, and then his beloved grandbabies. Larry was an avid sports fan, namely the Dallas Cowboys, the St. Louis Cardinals, and like any good Oklahoman, a fan of OU football, attending games with Debbie every chance he got. Larry loved to travel and took his family on some of the greatest vacations ever, to Disney World, Canada, Niagra Falls, and New Orleans to name a few. He enjoyed working outside doing carpentry, painting, and working in his yard. A Christian by faith, Larry was an active and long time member of Park Hill Baptist Church. Those who knew Larry best will forever remember his blue eyes, the laugh that came from the depths of his soul, and the love and devotion he had to his family. When the grandchildren began to arrive, Larry was transformed, and this by the book, reserved man of few words, became the grandpa who made the best animal imitations, who pulled his grandbabies up and down the road in a little covered wagon and who never, ever, turned down a chance to hold, hug, and talk to one of his grandkids. Larry loved his dogs, his Riverhawks, and his daily power walks, but he loved Emma Grace, Gavin E., Kenzie, Amanda and his God daughters, Savannah and Sierra more. The Lord called Larry home on April 11th, 2013 in Grove, OK. Larry was 55 years old.
Larry is preceded in death by his father, Donald, his mother, Loretta, and his grandparents, Walter and Edna Peace, and Herrell and Ora Skaggs,
Those left to cherish his memory include his wife Deborah of the home, three children: Leslie Dallis and husband Jessie of Tahlequah, OK, Lindsey Dillard and husband Neal of Tahlequah, OK, Josh Martin of Ft. Smith, AR, his sister, Brenda Skaggs of Tahlequah, OK, two nieces, Jennifer Harvey of Tahlequah, Kristi Williams and husband Wayne of OKC, OK, one great nephew, Tyler Wayne Williams, as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and a host of friends and loved ones.