Howard Gene Skaggs

Funeral Service for Howard Gene Skaggs, 89 of Vian, Oklahoma will be at 2:00 PM on Thursday, May 20, 2021 at Blackgum Harvestime Church in Vian, Oklahoma. Burial will follow at Box Cemetery in Vian, Oklahoma under the direction of Agent Mallory Martin Funeral Service, Inc.

He was born on October 19, 1931 in Blackgum community, Oklahoma to Olean (Tabor) Skaggs and Theodore Skaggs and passed away on May 17, 2021 in Vian, Oklahoma. He was married to Freeda (Chisum) Skaggs on January 28, 1984 in Blackgum community, Oklahoma.

Howard graduated from Vian High School in 1949 and also from Connors State College and Stillwater A&M (Oklahoma State University). He hitchhiked to college and back home on the weekends carrying his clothes in a cardboard box. He was drafted into the Army and served two years at Camp Drake near Tokya, Japan. He worked for John Deere Chemical for six years, was an owner/operator of Howards Conoco in Vian and worked at Kerr-McGee for 20 years. After retirement, he and Freeda began traveling the world. He was an avid fisherman and took pride in teaching his grandchildren his love of the sport. He and Freeda enjoyed square dancing to the fullest. He was a family man and good friend and will be missed by all.

Survivors are:

wife: Freeda of the home;

4 children: Cheryl Rawlings of Bella Vista, AR, Debra Johnson of San Antonio, TX, Danny Walker of Gore, OK, and Delayna Marion and Ronnie of Sallisaw, OK;

1 sister: Thelma Harris of Las Vegas, NV;

9 grandchildren: Nicole Rawlings, Sarah Rawlings, Daniel and Heather Pace, Curtis Pace and Adam Pace, Dustin Walker and Rachelle, Malarie Mendenhall and Jody, Laura Wheat and Drew and Walker Edgmon;

6 great-grandchildren: Brady, Barrett, Bennett, Maylee Grace, Shania and Dalayna;

special niece: Ginger Gilbreath and Mike;

He was preceded in death by a son: Don Walker; his parents; first wife, Jowanna Smith; one great-grandson, Bentley Mendenhall; three sisters, Carlene Warren, Rema Pace and Vera Ferguson and three brothers, Jake, Claude and Ronnie Skaggs.

Active Pallbearers will be Terry Skaggs, Marty Skaggs, Michael Skaggs, Daniel Pace, Curtis Pace and Adam Pace.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Gordon Warren, Sheridan Warren, Charles Warren, Danny Walker, Dustin Walker and Walker Edgmon.

Viewing will be 4 – 8 PM Tuesday and 10 AM – 8 PM Wednesday at Agent Mallory Martin Funeral Home in Sallisaw, OK where the family will greet 6 – 8 PM Wednesday.