Ruby "Lucille" Skidmore

Ruby Lucille Rissel Skidmore, 103, left this earth to spend eternity with her Lord and Savior on June 6, 2023. She was born September 8, 1919 in the Garland community of Henry County, MO to George Washington and Lorena Beatrice (Malone) Rissel. Her early childhood provided her with fond memories that she still enjoyed relating. However, life became quite difficult during the Great Depression, an era which forever left its mark on her nature of thriftiness and living by one of her favorite mottos, "Waste not, want not". At the age of twelve the family moved to the Bear Creek community of Johnson County where she lived for the remainder of her life. She started attending Bear Creek Baptist Church receiving Jesus Christ as her personal Savior and was an active member of that church her entire life where she taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School classes for years. She was the sponsor of the Girls' Auxillary with most of those girls keeping in contact with her throughout her life.
It was at church she met Clarence Paul Skidmore, fell in love and married him 87 years ago on May 27, 1936 in Warrensburg, MO. They would spent their entire married life in the Bear Creek community. Clarence and Lucille were the parents of three children: Clarence Eugene (Gene) Skidmore, Darlene Rector and Cheryl Patt.
Lucille was a typical homemaker and farm wife of that era helping wherever and doing whatever was needed. For years she raised chickens and sold eggs to a hatchery, fed calves on the bottle, raised vegetable gardens and preserved food. Her favorite farm activity, however, was tending her herd of sheep which she had for several years. In the little spare time she had, Lucille enjoyed quilting, embroidering, crocheting, painting and scrapbooking before it became an art form. But, above all, Lucille treasured the time spent with her family. A family dinner was seldom prepared without Grandmother's homemade rolls and someone's favorite kind of pie or cobbler, delighting each and commemorating special days.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Clarence; son, Gene Skidmore; and sons-in-law, Glen Patt and Lowell Rector. Surviving are daughters Darlene Rector, Warrensburg and Cheryl Patt, Holden; Margaret Skidmore, daughter-in-law, Harrisonville. Four grandchildren: Towanda (Warren) Lawler, Warrensburg; Kathy Jennings, Blue Springs; Darren Skidmore (Becky), Holden; and Lynn Skidmore, Holden. Six great grandchildren: Dustin Jennings, Blue Springs; AJ (Sasha) Gelbach, Abu Dhabi, UAE; Brittany (Jimmy) Gelbach, Lee's Summit; Ashley (Nick) Langsdale, Lee's Summit; Makayla Skidmore and Jill Skidmore of Holden. Four great-great-grandchildren: Blakely and Emerson Langsdale, Lee's Summit; Oliver and Lara Lucille Gelbach (who is 100 years younger than her Grandmother!), Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Lucille had often expressed the desire to pass away in the privacy of her own home which God did not allow her to do. However, she lived at that home independently until one week before her death. She loved God, family, and friends, and though she will be missed it is a joy to remember a life so well lived.
Funeral Services will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, June 10, 2023 at Williams Funeral Chapel in Holden with Pastor John Roberts officiating. Interment will follow at Bear Creek Cemetery, south of Holden. The family will receive friends one hour prior to service at Williams Funeral Chapel in Holden.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in honor of Lucille to Bear Creek Cemetery or to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering through the Bear Creek Baptist Church.
online condolences may be left at www.williamsfuneralchapel.net