Michael David "Mike" Skipworth

Michael "Mike" David Skipworth, 74, of Clayton, passed from this life unexpectedly on Tuesday, October 14, 2025. He was born in Indianapolis on August 5, 1951, to the late Etchel Esta and Ruby Glee (Short) Skipworth.
Growing up on the southside of Indianapolis, Mike proudly graduated from Emmerich Manual High School with the class of 1969 and was immediately drafted into the United States Army. He proudly served his country while stationed in Korea during the Viet Nam war and learned the skill of working on tanks. Upon discharge he returned stateside and met the love of his life in 1973, Karen Stephens, a pretty woman who worked at White Castle. Mike regularly made trips into the restaurant to woo her in with his boyish charm and good looks. The two were together for 4 years before marrying on February 17, 1977, and Mike happily took on the father role to her three children. A wonderful provider, he originally worked for the Post Office, he then secured employment with Rolls Royce, GM, and lastly at Allison's Transmissions as a gifted machinist, where he dedicated 43 years of hard work with a 15-year streak of perfect attendance, before deservingly retiring in 2018.
Family oriented, Friday nights Mike gave the kids the choice of pizza or Long John Silver's, and Saturday mornings they were treated with doughnuts. Living to make his family happy while remaining frugal (yet giving), they enjoyed going to the drive-in, taking a grocery sack of popcorn and took trips to King's Island. With the music of the Beatles engrained in his soul, he was known to spontaneously break into song, and he passed the love of their music onto his kids, and they carry it with them to this day. A true sports fan, he thoroughly enjoyed cheering all his Indiana teams on, from the Colts to the Pacers, to IU. His guilty pleasure was gambling, going to casinos and playing poker with his brothers and friends, along with scratching lottery tickets. He appreciated a good game of euchre, knew every line from every Andy Griffith show, often talking along with the characters, and frequented the local grocery store almost daily. He had a passion for completing the crossword puzzle in the Indy Star, along with the jumble puzzle, keeping his mind sharp. In 2000, the entire family took the trip of a lifetime to Europe, visiting 7 countries.
A truly good man with a heart of gold, Mike loved animals (referred to as his four-legged children), and he and Karen owned several cats and dogs through the years. He was sweet, kind, loving and supportive to his wife. Continuously keeping his family and friends laughing, Mike was simple, and he never made an enemy in all his years on earth. Gone too soon, he will be forever missed by all who were fortunate to know and love him.
Along with his parents, Mike was preceded in death by his grandson, Derek Smith.
He leaves behind his soulmate of 52 years, Karen Skipworth of Clayton; children, Becky Patino (Alex) of Lizton, Robin Smith (Robert) of Indianapolis, Butch Ganstine (Kelly) of Mooresville; siblings, Darrell Skipworth of Beech Grove, Debra Patrick (David) of Whiteland, and Randy Skipworth (Elaine) of Indianapolis; and grandsons, Dustin Smith (Natsumi) of Japan, and Matthew Skaggs of Greenwood.
Cremation and Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to Light Memorial & Funeral Chapel in Monrovia. Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 23, 2025, from 3:00pm until a Celebration of Life Service at 6:00pm, with Military Honors performed by the Mooresville Honor Guard, and Pastor Jack Elliott will officiate. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made by mail to the Morgan County Humane Society, 690 W. Mitchell Ave, Martinsville, IN 46151, or online by clicking https://www.mchumanesoc.org/, and envelopes will be provided during services. To share a favorite story, send an online condolence to the family, or light a candle in Mike's memory, please visit his tribute page at www.lightmemorial.com.