Ricky Bill “Rick” Skinner entered this world on March 4th, 1952, the first son of Billy Lyne and Loneta Louise (Stevens) Skinner and passed away Thursday, February 29, 2024 in Angel Fire, NM, at the age of 71 years, 11 months and 25 days.
Born in Carnegie, OK, our future Dad, Papa, Brother, Uncle, and Hero helped oversee the raising of a legion of younger siblings, assisted of course by his 2 older sisters. His youth was full of adventure with several summers spent harvesting across the Great Plains from Oklahoma to Montana. He loved his small-town running buddies Bill Howell and Kyle King who remained important to him throughout his life.
Dad thoroughly enjoyed recounting the memories that told the story of his upbringing.
Upon graduating from Carnegie High School in 1970, he enrolled in classes at SWOSU where he was introduced to what would become his lifelong hometown of Weatherford. This also kicked off a special commitment to his SWOSU Bulldog Family that would span 5 decades. In 1974, Rick became the first male Skinner to graduate with a college degree. His Bachelor of Science in Industrial Arts was bought and paid for out of his own pocket as he held several jobs through this time including roughnecking during the oil boom.
1976 was a monumental year for Rick. He married his bride, Lynn Ellen Gibson of Enid, OK and went into business with his next younger brother Randy. Over the next decade, Rick grew his family with 2 boys and 1 baby girl while also building The Weatherford Cabinets brand. He endured all the challenges he faced with dignity and determination. In 1987, Rick rejoined the SWOSU community within the Physical Plant.
Under the leadership of Jim Loomis, he gained the highest confidence and respect as the Assistant Director. He was known for his ability to get the job done right and under budget. The first time. Eventually, Jim passed the baton to Rick, and he literally ran with it. Multiple campus projects were started and completed under his watch. By the time he retired in 2018, the SWOSU campus was transformed into the crown jewel of Western Oklahoma.
Along the way, Rick Skinner became synonymous with Weatherford and was often asked to weigh in on community matters that needed no-nonsense solutions.
During his post-retirement years, Dad fell back in love with his favorite sport. If he ever beat his golfing buddy George Faulkner, he would talk for weeks about that perfect shot he pulled off to win the round. He also rekindled his first true love of woodworking with his brother Randy at the Cabinet Shop. Above all, he relished every opportunity to attend his kids’ and grandkids’ events, big and small. From Friday Night Lights to graduations and from little league baseball games to theatrical productions, he showed up to every family event with an eager smile because he sincerely wanted to be there.
He championed his kid’s dreams and made them his own.
Most recently, Dad unlocked an opportunity for all of us to gather together in the mountains anytime we wanted.
February 29, 2024, after nearly 72 years on Earth, God called Dad home. But before He did so, He gifted Dad one last fine day with family in Angel Fire, NM.
Rick is preceded in death by his sister, Kathryn Louise Skinner; his father, Billie Lyne Skinner; and his mother, Loneta Louise Skinner. He is survived by his eldest son, Ryan Todd Skinner, his wife, Caroline, and their children, Trenton Ryan and Sydnie Lauren all of Shawnee, OK; middle son, Rodney Allen Skinner, his wife, Ashlee, and their children, Sam Riley and Hollen Kate of Elk City, OK; daughter, Taren McKenzie Black, her husband, Jacob, and their children, Brady Lynn and Baylor McKenzie of Edmond, OK; his siblings, Judy Unruh and her husband, Jerry of Weatherford, OK; Janis Scott of Blanchard, OK; Rhonda Dorrell and her husband, Doug, of Excello, MO; Randy Skinner and his wife, Brenda, of Weatherford, OK; Ronnie Skinner, his wife, Reta, of Weatherford, OK; Jeanine Scales, her husband, Daryl of Carnegie, OK; James Skinner of Weatherford, OK; Jerry Skinner of Carnegie, OK; Lorrie Hollingsworth, her husband, Eddie of Carnegie, OK; and Lana Nix of Weatherford, OK; in addition to many nieces and nephews whom he adored. In all, Rick Skinner was part of a living breathing family of 140+ relatives that routinely gathered together for fellowship during all seasons of the year.
Undoubtedly, Dad will be celebrating all future Skinner Family Reunions from the Heavens above.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Rick Skinner Memorial Fund, c/o SWOSU Foundation, Inc., 100 Campus Drive, Weatherford, OK 73096. Memorials may be made using a check payable to ‘SWOSU FOUNDATION’ with ‘Rick Skinner’ noted in the memorandum line and mailed to: SWOSU FOUNDATON, 100 CAMPUS DRIVE, WEATHERFORD OK 73096.
Memorials can also be made online by visiting www.GiveTo-SWOSU.com (http:// www.givetoswosu. com/) and selecting ‘Rick Skinner Memorials’ from the menu of places to give. Memorials may also be made using a credit/debit card or direct bank account debit by calling the SWOSU Foundation, Inc. office at 580-7743267.