Mary Cornelia Dee Skaggs

Mary Cornelia Dee Skaggs, CBE January 24, 1900 - Oct. 1, 2009 Mary Cornelia Dee Skaggs, CBE, died at her Lake County, California ranch on October 1, 2009. She was 109 years of age. Mary Skaggs was born January 24, 1900 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. She immigrated with her family to the US in 1906 and eventually settled in Ogden, Utah. In 1919, she married L.J. Skaggs, one of the six brothers who, in 1927, organized Safeway Stores. In 1936, L.J. Skaggs founded Payless Drug Stores in California, a chain of drug stores he directed until his death in 1970. Following the death of her husband, Mary Skaggs assumed leadership of their private foundation, The L.J. Skaggs and Mary C. Skaggs Foundation. The Foundation awards grants in the areas of the arts, history and the environment in the US and abroad, especially England. On the occasion of Mrs. Skaggs' 100th birthday, Queen Elizabeth created her a Commander in the Order of the British Empire in recognition of her philanthropic activities in the United Kingdom. Mary Skaggs was preceded in death by her husband and their daughter, Virginia. She is survived by nieces and nephews in Utah and by many California friends. In accordance with her wishes, funeral services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mt. Vernon, San Francisco Opera or Save the Bay.