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Robert Allen Skillman Sr. , Age: 97

September 06, 1925 - September 03, 2023

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Robert (Bob) Allen Skillman was born to Blanche (nee Huntamer) and Charles Skillman in

Lacey, Washington on September 6, 1925. With his (eventually) eight siblings, he grew up on

the family farm and generated many stories of life there. One involved venturing away from the

house one day with his little brother John, and when they started to return home John cried

that they were lost and wouldn’t budge. Bob told him “It’s OK – I’ll go home and tell mom that

we’re lost.” When driving through Lacey, he often pointed out where he would drive livestock

with his dad, and frequently told stories about going with his dad and brother to the Ruddell

Pioneer Cemetery where his dad would mow the property and Bob and John would play among

the trees and gravestones. Bob is now buried next to Fay, his wife of 64 years, in that cemetery.

His brother Charles (Chuck), sisters Roberta and Mary, his mother and father, and many other

Skillman and Huntamer relatives lay in that peaceful site. An interesting video about the history

of the Ruddell Pioneer Cemetery was recently presented by Pretty Gritty Tours is at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60v0DdaOf8s

In 1944, World War II caused Bob to be drafted out of his senior year at Olympia High School.

He often said this was an exciting time, and presented a welcome break from caring for

livestock. After basic training in Idaho, Bob was sent to diesel training in Ames, Iowa, then was

sent into the Pacific theater. His letters home mention being in Aniwetok, the Caroline Islands,

Leyte and Okinawa. He would tell the story of the kamikaze that crashed into the sea next to

the destroyer being escorted by his ship. Bob was sent back stateside when he broke his

glasses, then the bombs were dropped, Japan surrendered, and the war was over.

Once back in Olympia, Bob met his eventual wife Fay Miller. In their early years together they

were founding members of the Olympia Motorcycle Club. In the club’s “Death Head Derby”

Bob’s feats included driving through flaming tunnels. The story has been told that while

courting Fay, Bob rode down Olympia’s Fourth Avenue hill while standing on the seat of his

bike.

After the war, with his brothers Chuck and John, Bob started a business delivering firewood.

This led to the Skillman Brothers logging business, for which Bob designed and built a sawmill

on wheels that could be trailered into job sites to mill the trees if the market price was better

for partially sawn logs. Eventually Bob bought the business from his brothers, and continued it

with his son, Bob Jr. The logging and sawmill business continued for many years and was

complemented by Bob Sr, Fay and Bob Jr’s buying and selling of properties for logging and

building development. For a video featuring the Skillman Mill – check out the “Guilty of

Treeson” YouTube video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uS6S7PFdyk.

Bob and Fay were among the founders of the Griffin Fire Department and active members of

the Steamboat Island community. They were also eager travelers. In 1962 they ventured from

Olympia (with Bob Jr) to Ketchikan, Alaska and back in a 19 foot boat. Together Bob and Fay

traveled to China, Australia, and New Zealand, and with daughter Sue to Hong Kong, Thailand,

and Taiwan. In their motorhome they made many trips through Mexico, including to Belize, and

around the US and Canada.

Bob was recognized for his harmonica playing and would play a tune whenever asked (and

often without an invitation) with a particular love of playing for children. He was not shy about

his opinions, but was open to a wide range of thought – likely benefiting from his upbringing in

a large family with diverse and vocal views. While not particularly religious, Bob often spoke of

the importance of following Jesus’s counsel to “seek the truth.”

Bob’s much-loved wife Fay preceded him in death in 2015. He is survived by son Robert (Bob) Jr

(partner Danni Cooper), daughter Susan Skillman (husband Phil Fenner), grandsons Eli (wife

Sarah) and Chad Skillman, and former daughter-in-law Jan Skillman (partner Matt Harlow).

Great grandchildren are Jake, Sophie and Scarlett Skillman, and step grandchildren are Trevor

Fenner and Evelyn Kidd (husband Tony), with step great grandchildren Henry, Rosie and Betty.

Bob’s siblings, all of whom preceded him in death, were Mary, Charles (Chuck), Roberta (Berta),

Alice, Blanche Bernice (BeBe), John, Elizabeth (Beth), and Rebecca (Becky).

The last family owned funeral home in Thurston County.

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