Kathryn Ann Skatula

SKATULA, Kathryn Ann (54), of Valley Village, California, died peacefully at her home Thursday, July 21, 2008, after a courageous, year-long battle with ALS. An accomplished actor, singer, pianist, composer, and voice teacher, she was born June 11, 1954 in Tacoma, Washington to Roman and Marty (Sabo) Skatula of Sheridan, Wyoming. She grew up in Sheridan, representing the state in the 1972 Junior Miss Pageant, in which she won a talent scholarship to Colorado Women's College where she studied music and theatre, eventually touring with several singing groups including The New Christy Minstrels. In 1977, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue her childhood dream of a professional acting career. As a member of Actor's Equity, SAG, and AFTRA, she performed in national touring companies of Annie, Nine, Annie Get Your Gun, The Sound of Music, and Cathy Rigby's Peter Pan. The greatest joy of her career, however, was as a founding member of the Musical Theatre Guild, an organization devoted to presenting rarely-performed musicals. She was a proud member of Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Santa Monica, serving as organist, choir director, soloist, and liturgist. A passionate humanitarian, she was active in many causes, including the Actor's Fund and Relay for Life. Kathryn travelled widely, loved sports and hiking and nature, feeling a special connection to Wyoming's Big Horn Mountains. It is fitting, then, that a portion of her ashes will be scattered there. She is survived by her partner in life, Ali B. Olmo; her parents; Rick (her brother) and Kim Skatula and their children, Adam and Gretchen of Casper, Wyoming; Debra (her sister) and Dick Mason and their children, Jordan and Zachary of Bellevue, Washington; and Mary Jo (her sister) and Clark Johnson and their daughter, Sara, of Sheridan; and more friends than she could possibly count. Services will be held at Mount Olive Lutheran Church, 1343 Ocean Park Boulevard in Santa Monica on Monday, August 25th at 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, Kathryn requested donations be made to the ALS Association, the Musical Theatre Guild, or the Mount Olive Memorial Fund.