Just wanted to share how much my sweet cousin will be missed! I loved you so much! But, what a joyous time you are having with mom (Dedoo), uncle Gary, Tisha, mimi and mingi! All kinds of dancing on streets of gold!! Maybe a few philosophical discussions!! Love you all!
Paula

i meet Tony through the union. He became a great friend and union brother. I thoroughly enjoyed working with him as I progressed up through the union. He was an avid supporter during my time in office and is a friend I will always cherish. 
 

Did not know Tony that well, but my son, Daniel, and Josh have been very good friends since high school. Since last week when I heard the news of Tony's passing, my heart has been so heavy. Lifting each one of you up in prayer! I pray that His strength and peace will continue to uphold you in the days and weeks ahead. May you all be showered with a love that is enduring and comforted at this time.

In His Love,
Connie Sanders

I met Tony when I became friends with Josh in high school, and he never failed to make me feel welcome in his family's home. He always had a joke and I could always tell that he loved to laugh and have a great time with his family and friends. I also could always tell how deeply he cared about his family, and I count myself lucky to have been a small part of that.

Tony was a really great guy. When Tisha and I were hanging out, practicing cheerleading he was very nice to us.(Unlike other friends' older Brothers).  I remember him getting his map of stars out and showing us constellations.  It was the first time I even knew they existed.  He loved his loud music and I really appreciated being around such a nice older sibling. I certainly had never witnessed such love and respect between siblings!  Fly high Freebird. I know you are rejoicing in heaven with your daddy and Tisha.

I’ve tried a dozen times to post a memory &my stupid “smartphone” crashes right before I’m finished so here goes again &you know I show up late always for everything anyway Tony 🤷‍♀️  I met you & Denise about 5+yrs ago at Karokee &we’ve been friends every since. Karokee & music really brings people together &I’m thankful it did us really thankful bc you &Denise were keepers that’s for sure. I didn’t see you all the time but in that 5 yrs we have ran into each other I believe at every Karokee place in the area...ok not really but to name a few our meet ups started at the old Labamba on Cedarcrest & then at Sivas Kennesaw and Buffalos Hiram, Birdies wings & then our newest place was Los Portales Crossroads just to name a few fav places.  I wish we had talked more Tony after hearing how you had so many great stories to share but you know how 2women who connect with each other can be when they get together so you always sat there wisely silent letting Denise & I ramble &chat most often times i ran into yall 🥴🤷‍♀️❤️ I did learn over the last year or so that our bdays were just days apart so we were both July Cancer Souls & cancers have a rare connection bc we are rare sensitive deep thinking & feeling wise souls. I also learned your love for animals especially dogs & cats. Its a no brainer you love music &connect with music on a deep level & it spoke to your soul &spirit as it does a lot of us. You were very talented &could really sing &most importantly picked the best songs &usually some great classics & I wish i had asked u about picking me some songs bc i kindv stink at that part &you were spot on in singing songs that fit your voice! i sang The SweetestThing by JuiceNewton once & you said “you did that really well Tessa” & it meant a lot to me so i chose to sing it Thursday Nite in your memory bc your chair was empty &that was so painful for all! With tearful eyes in my car that Nite i saw a piece of a 🌈 peaking & I knew God had u & u were singin ur ❤️out. I will miss u Bud💔

I’m going to miss you my friend.  When I was down you helped me see things differently.  I’m blessed having known you.  Now you’re no longer having pain, you’re reunited with your Dad and your sweet sister (that I also miss dearly).   I can’t believe you’re gone.  

Sue, one of our last text messages we were talking about how parents and kids behave with one another (he was helping me feel better about an issue with one of my own children) when our conversation came to a close he said “I think I’m going to call Mom now”.   Tony became like a brother I never had and I will forever remember him for his kindness and prayers for me.  

Sending prayers of love and peace for you all.  I’m sorry I cannot be there to pay my respects in person.  Know that you are on my mind and in my heart Denise, Sue, Pat and Wendi and all of the family.  

Tony used to tell me the most amazing stories about all the things I said (but couldn’t remember) in the back seat of his truck while I was completely hammered. You see, I spent a rather great deal of young adulthood looking for trouble, finding it, and subsequently needing to be rescued alongside Tony’s son, Josh. Night after night we aimlessly drifted through life’s good times to the next, often an hour away from home, watching the sunrise over the Atlanta skyline, and being dumb kids that suddenly need a ride home at 7 AM. Just like clockwork, Tony would show up in the truck an hour later to drive us home. He wouldn’t even beat us up over it. He was just glad we weren’t driving drunk. Sometimes us dumb kids would argue in the back seat about the kinds of things drunk people argue about, and Tony would laugh and laugh. Other times, my man drove us through McDonalds. No doubt some of the best cheeseburgers (in context, of course) I’ve ever had. I remember thinking at the time that it “sure was nice” that Tony would come pick Josh and I up time and time again in situations like these in the early morning.

Oh. My. God. I’m 35 now, a father of 3, and I have a full-time job. It’s crazy to look back on these memories now from a different perspective and realize just how much of this man’s precious spare time he gave to rescuing me from trouble… over, and over, again. That’s Tony to me. A rescuer. A hero. He wanted us all to think he was a curmudgeonly, crotchety old man, but at his very core, Tony Skeen was a kindhearted, caring, and giving man.  


Tony had a big influence on my life. He was a great man who always knew how to make the people around him smile. I will never forget the stories he would tell me about my childhood, like when I was about five and we went to the circus. I was being rambunctious till he told me there were dinosaurs that come out after the show. At the end of the show I leaned over to ask, "Hey when's the dinosaurs coming out!" He just laughed. He was always laughing so I would always try and joke with him. I'll never forget the time at the mall. Brittany and I were separated from Tony so I told Brittany we had to get one over on him. We met back up with him, I told a story that we got locked up by a security guard with a lisp. I did the voice and told him that the lisping guard said that we were going to jail for shoplifting and that I had been crying. We had him going for about 20 minutes until he saw through the bull crap and we all had a good laugh. He also loved to tell me the story from when I was a small kid and he pulled up at Mamaw's to see me sitting on the gravel driveway eating. He asked me what I was eating and I looked up at him with a dirty face and answered "Rocks!" He's told me that story a hundred times. I love Tony very much and will miss him till we meet again.

I met Tony shortly after Josh and I started dating, and I knew before we officially met that he was a character from the stories that I’d heard from Josh. 

He always tried to convince me to sing at karaoke, especially after someone butchered a song he liked. He tried everything, begging, reverse psychology, betting, the works, but I’d always tell him that I was retired. He didn’t care, he’d just try again the next time. 

Vacations with the Skeen family were one-of-a-kind, it didn’t matter if it was the beach or Disney, we always went home with funny stories (the flying breakfast sandwich incident being my all time favorite). 

He accepted me as one of his own, and treated me like I wasn’t just related by marriage. As someone who lost her own father at a young age, I’ll never forget that because it truly meant more to me than he probably even realized. 

2 of 2

I didn’t go on many summer vacations growing up. I never really thought much of it until the Skeens invited me to go to the beach when I was 20. This started an incredible tradition that lasted many wonderful years. I am so grateful that Tony let me come crash has family vacation all those years, and those amazing memories have inspired me to take my own family to the beach every single year. I have Tony to thank for showing me the value of vacationing together as a family, and as a father and husband I now understand on a more sincere level how wonderful it is to share these times with loved ones. 

What is so surprising to me, though, is that Tony kept inviting my friends and I back to the beach. We were young, incredibly stupid, and possessed an unwarranted appetite for destruction. He had to convince the police to not arrest us, not just once, but twice, in two different cities in different years. I swear on one of these occasions, while sitting on the curb next to my friends as the blue lights lit up the midnight sky, I overheard him say in a calm, almost defeated voice, “no officer, you don’t need to arrest them. They’re mine. They’re just stupid.” This man had PATIENCE. If I were Tony, after the cops left, I would have thrown us all to the sharks. 

Thank you, Tony, for all the words of wisdom, for watching over me when I was young, and for always being patient with me, even when I got under your skin. You always made me feel like you cared about me, even without words. Thank you for treating me like one of your own. I always felt like I was when I was with you. Thank you for showing me that families can bicker, loudly, and still mean the world to each other afterwards. Thank you for always singing from your heart. You may not have landed a record deal, but you brightened and inspired the lives of those that had the pleasure of being entertained by you. 

I’ll miss you my friend. Tony Skeen, The Great Georgia Legend. 

My friend.. Considered like family to me.. He was dedicated to his family loved God and enjoyed singing sooo much.. his extended karoake family will miss him dearly.. although he is gone he will never be forgotten.. look down on us all Tony and look after us.. we will do our best to make you proud... until we meet again my friend

Tony, 
You have always been a bright light in any room. We always loved hearing you tell your stories; even the bad memories you made hillarious. How the hell did you remember every detail?  We will forever be amazed at how you could recall the name of the song, singer, album and the year it came out.. We'll never forget the old days of playing Rook around Geraldine's kitchen table New Years, Christmas and any other time we could make up. Hoping you and "the old man" are enjoying a game of Rook now. Tony, most of all we will remember you for your contagious laughter that filled the room anytime you were around. We all don't have a memory like yours,  but recalling all the good times we had with you doesn't require one. .
We love you Tony and miss you already RIP.
Mark & Deena Hardin

Tony and I worked for the same railroad, but different divisions. I regrettably didn’t  get to meet him in person, but I felt like I had known him for years. We became online friends and had discussions about work, politics, and sometimes just life in general. His wit, humor, and ability to tell a story in such incredible detail never failed to amaze me. From these chats and his posts, I knew he was a good and honorable man that loved his family, his friends and co-workers, his animals, and his Faith. I’ve no doubt that last one has carried him to a well deserved and most wonderful home on High. I pray the Good Lord will give comfort and strength to all his family and loved ones in this time. 

I'm really going to miss Tony , even though we didn't see each other much I always enjoyed talking with him. He was a likeable person and always had interesting stories . I'll never forget his laugh . We have truly lost a good man. He will be missed.

Tony, I remember when I first met you and Denise at Birdies. I thought in my mind, what great people they are! I am so glad that I got the opportunity to meet you too and I will always cherish the times we all had at Birdies and then Buffalo's for karaoke. I know that was your favorite thing to do and looked forward to it every week. Those were some great times that I will never forget. Thank you for being a part of my life and for me being a part of yours.  You will be greatly missed  by so many that love you! Love you buddy! 

Tony,
I can't begin to share all the wonderful memories we have together... you were my big brother and always in my life.
 I think you probably taught me to read.  One of my earliest memories is crawling up in the bottom bunk-bed beside you and snuggling next to you while you were reading.  You didn't shoo me away, you started reading aloud and explaining to me (a little 4 year old).  I think you were reading out of the children's encyclopedia!  You always were patient and kind.  You also taught me to drive.   Much patience was required!  I can't believe you are gone from this world... but I know you are happy and free in a better place.  I can almost hear the loud conversation with you, Tisha, Daddy, Mimi, and Deedoo!  Oh, I will miss you and your stories, but I will be with you by and by.   See you later big brother.  <3

Tony- thank you for ‘being there’ for me when I was as a troubled teen- I always knew you cared about me then & I have- and never will forget what a compassionate person you are-  you will be missed- so...much by all of us- love you Tony-
You rock, (like a South Bound train)!!

Uncle tony, 
I miss his Facebook posts and His stories. He was a funny and respectful man. He was also sweet and generous. 

Uncle Tony was always like a dad to me. I remember one time when I was 17, my car was broken down and I was stranded at my job. I was freaking out because my parents weren’t able to leave work to help me, so I was stuck. I called Brittany in tears scared to be out so late at night in a bad area. On the phone in the background, I heard Uncle Tony say, in his deep, jolly voice, “Honey, now don’t you worry because I will come up there and help you in a heartbeat!” I remember feeling so loved and safe because he was always willing to do ANYTHING for his family, including me. I also remember once we went to Joe’s Crab Shack for a birthday party, and per usual the waiter came to the table and wanted us to dance.. I literally do not dance. Until my uncle Tony said again, “Honey, if you get up there and dance I’ll slap this $5 bill in your hand!” Sure enough I danced and I got to watch him laugh at me, fondly. I will miss you so much Uncle. Thank you for all that you’ve done for me, for Aunt Denise, Brittany and Josh. I know you’re enjoying singing karaoke with Jesus right now. See you later. 

Tony,  I miss you so much that I don’t even know where to begin. We have been in each other’s lives for 38 years, for 36 of those we were married and had 2 beautiful children. 
You have always been a wonderful husband and wonderful dad. 
This past year has been one of our happiest years together, we loved going to karaoke with our karaoke family and spending time with our children. Most importantly we became closer than we had in 10 years. 
We always had each others back and vowed that we would always be there for one another. 
I wish I could bring you back, but I know you’re walking on streets of gold and are happier than you have ever been in your life. 
Josh, Brittany and I are hurting, but we know we will see you again. 
I love you with all my heart,
Denise. 

Tony had the best memory of any one I know of Southern and NS railway in the late 70's and early 80's. When we worked together after 2000. I was a company official and he was still a union rep. We had many battles but I respected him and he did me as he has stated before. I know how much Tony loved his family and he will be missed by many.  Prayers for Denise, Brittany and Josh.

My favorite memory of my Tony happened two years ago on a Saturday night at Buffalo's  my girl friend Debbie loves the song Paint Me A Birmingham and she had been after me to learn it and to be totally honest I suck at it . One night Tony got up and sang it perfectly and the following week when it was Karaoke night again Debbie was with me and there sat Tony and Denise I went up and headed him a 20 dollar bill to please sing it for her. He put it back in my hand and said I'll sing it for her but ain't taking no $20 for doing it he said are you crazy isn't taking you 20 dollars you can forget that. He was s wonderfull friend whom I'm going to miss with all my heart .  R.I.P my Brother


Our family moved to Smyrna Georgia in 1974. Tony and his family lived 3 houses down. I have known Tony for a long time, very intelligent and a great storyteller. He always was very sentimental and loved to reminisce about the past. Our families  had so many good times together, no replacing those memories. His sister Tisha and I were best friends and when Tony was not home we would  jump on his bed and look through his extensive  album Collection. We were lucky to not get caught😂 I miss seeing his post on Facebook and pictures of his animals which he loved dearly. He loved his family very much along with all his friends. Rest in peace my friend💕🌻 

I didn't know Tony personally but I felt like I did through his stories. I always envied him getting a job with the railroad when it was still Southern and still a good place to work. I tried to get on with Southern a couple years after he did but couldn't due to layoffs.  So reading his stories of life on the railroad back in the good old days makes me see how it could have been with me. I will always treasure that.  I know he would have been a great person to work with. God bless you all and I pray he gives you strength during this difficult time.

I met Tony many years ago when my sons became friends with his Wonderful son Josh ❤
Tony and Denise warmly opened their Home, Hearts and Family to them and graciously extended that to me too 😘
I am forever grateful for the many years of Wit, Humor, Fun, Advise, Admonitions and Shenanigans  he gave my sons, and the lasting impact he made in their lives ❤
I will always remember the fun times at Birdies Karaoke and our numerous Facebook exchanges. 
Tony always had kind words of encouragement for me whenever I posted updates of my ongoing Cancer Journey.
He would send me Poems and Humorous Memes to keep my spirits up 😊
We even exchanged Facebook messages the morning he moved onto Heaven ❤
Tony was greatly Loved and will be deeply missed ❤
He will live on in the hearts and memories of all who knew him and through the lives of his Beautiful Children, Brittany and Josh ❤😘❤


Tony has made an impact on me even tho I have not met him in person, his railroad stories of the glory days of the southern railway have always inspired me and made me realize even more that I was born into the wrong era. His stories and cheerfulness will always be remembered and will be sorely missed as well. Tony may you forever rest in the comforts of that big railroad retirement home in the sky in God's company. 

I may not have known Tony as well as many. However, he and his beautiful bride provided me with many kind words during a very rough part of my life. I'll never forget the kindness shown to me. In the years since, I've  Loved following his animal posts on Facebook. I know he made a stop at the Rainbow Bridge on his way through the pearly gates.

I worked with Tony for right at 10 years.  And after I left the railroad we still stayed in touch.  I had a lot of good nights with old sunshine lol and he would all ways have union stuff to do when it rained.  I met him when I was 19 years old so for 25 years it was a honor to call him my friend.  You will be missed old buddy

When i first met tony i knew i found someone who would become a father figure in my life. He always gave me the best life advice with the fewest words possible, his wisdom helped me through some of the hardest times in my life. He was gracious and so kind to me and my family. We shared a bond of music friendship and laughter like no other. Tony i know you will be near even if i dont see you! You will be with me and my family always. You will forever be in my heart and in my life always. 

Ok so I've been thinking about T alot and we had some great memories but one always would pop back in my head so this is the one I'm gonna share, its one that me and Tony probably only know about. The first time Tony invited me to go to karaoke the first song he sang was Come Monday by Jimmy Buffett.  T knew that I am a huge Buffett fan and even though I know he loved that song I think he sung it that night 1st for me. Now here's what people don't know. Every year I go see Buffett and every time he sings Come Monday I would send T a video or pic and tell him Jimmys singing your song. He would always respond with with thats one of my favorite songs then another text saying "Have fun, be careful and drink one for me". Well thats my story and the next time will be totally different not texting my buddy, but for the family of Tony remember the lyrics and listen to the words of the song because maybe not this Monday or the next but one day Come Monday things will be alright! Love you Tony and we all gonna miss you

I’ve known Tony now for 31 years. Only worked on a job with him a handful of times, but  was around him quite frequently working the same shift or swapping out with him. When he worked as a utility at Inman and Austell he was attached to my job often. I’m really gonna miss his stories. Another co- worker Jody Irvin and myself were just talking about going to hear him sing in the next couple of weeks.  Alas  we’ll  have to wait until we’re  on the other side ourselves now. RIP my friend and we will meet again one day. My condolences to Denise, Brittany, and Josh along with his Mother, sister and the rest of the Skeen family. May God give you peace, strength and comfort during this season. 

I met Tony and his family at Birdies well over a decade ago.  I was working 2 jobs as a single mother to 4 children.  I remember admiring the entire Skeen family for their bond, with Tony at the helm showing all of us what a patriarch should be.  

His memory will live on, and I send my love to Denise and family.  💕

I'm really gonna miss you Tony.
Tony was the one who convinced me (by me reading his stories of the railroad past) that I made the right decision in 1979 to become a Firefighter. It was 50/50 in my mind between Fire Service and Railroad Service. I knew RR paid a lot better, but adrenalin and Johnny & Roy on Squad 51 got the best of me and I became a Firefighter.  I realized after reading Tony's good and not-so-good accounts of RR life, that I was glad I got to do what I did. Little did I know I would get a chance to work on the RR in the form of a Conductor at the Tennessee Valley RR Museum. I could tell by his stories also he was one of the best at his craft. I hope I'll give him a chuckle every now and then with my Conductor escapades at TVRM. I regret not meeting him in person, but I felt like he was a good friend by all of our dealings on FB. He defiantly had my back when Liberal friends were getting too thick. Thanks Tony, you really are one of my RR hero's.

I met Tony through a Southern Railway page on Facebook. Hearing his stories and laughing till my sides hurt.

He was a good fellow to talk shop with. I always enjoyed reading his experiences and bantering with him.

The family has my families deepest sympathies. 

The first time I meet Tony was at the family Christmas 29 years ago. To say I was a bit overwhelmed is an understatement. But Tony made me feel like part of the family that day and always did every time we were together. We always seemed to sit together at family gatherings and talked about anything from politics to sports.  Tony always had a story to tell and was always willing to listen to your stories as well. He loved his family more than anything and was always their biggest supporter.  Tony will be missed by everyone who knew him. Love you Tony!

I went to school with Tony and worked with Denise. I set them up on their first date. I knew they would be a good match.  Keeping the entire Skeen family in my thoughts and prayers!🙏🏼

Tony and I were good friends in high school! We had many classes together. He was always so nice to me and we shared a lot of laughs. We lost contact after graduation until Facebook! He asked to be my friend one day and then I discovered he had worked on the railroad with my dad! My dad was a train engineer and had worked with Tony. Tony said my dad could be a grouchy old guy (he didn’t quite use those exact words)! I told him I knew that!!
We talked a lot on Facebook through the years about our families, our love for our pets , and our love for Disney! Tony always told things as he saw it and didn’t take crap off of people! Sometimes I wish I would have the guts to say what he did! He also was the type of guy that would give you the “shirt off of his back.” I always looked forward to his posts! He made me laugh out loud many times! I know Facebook won’t be the same without him. I’ll sure miss our conversations. When he posted a few days ago that he was leaving Facebook for a while I was going to message him but was on vacation with our family and didn’t. The next post I saw was from Brittany about his passing. Chuck and I both loved Tony and glad he was our friend. My heart goes out to the family. Cherish your memories. 

I accidentally friended Tony a few years ago, tho king he was a different Tony! We became fast Facebook friends over politics and sarcasm!! It was a while before I realized that I had never met him!! 😂 it didn’t matter. He then became fb friends with one of my gay liberal friends! They were great!! Both were passionate understanding men who loved a good jab! My friend Russ was so sad to hear about your dads passing. He was looking forward to getting together after this stupid Covid crap was over. Your dad had an understanding that I appreciated. As sarcastically he was, he was also building bridges. I will miss him. Hugs to you all. We commented almost every day on each other’s post. I commented on his post the morning he passed. I told him to keep the faith. He made me laugh. But I totally agree there was much more to that grouchy bear than you see at first!! Bless your dad!!

I just met Tony through his railroad stories posted on Facebook. I laughed (sometimes rolling on the floor), cried, and marveled at his retelling of his experiences while working for Southern.  His memory of the individuals involved, witty descriptions, and obvious love of his craft, those who worked with him, and the customers they served exemplified all the best of railroading as railroaders know it. It certainly showed the best of Southern Railway's great tradition. To those of you in Tony's family and your close friends, I mourn with you on his loss. I'm sure the love he showed for his profession was tiny compared to the love he showed you in his life. Godspeed Tony. 

Tony was the father of my very best friend. I will always remember how caring and protective of his daughter he was. When Brittany was about to come to see me the first time, Tony had Googled facts about my town. I had to send them a photo of me by the paper mill just to prove I was a real person. We all laughed about it later. He was always so kind to me and wanted me to come see all of the family. I wish I had. 

Tony just made people feel like family. From the first time I met Tony, he welcomed and trusted me as though he'd known me for years. Thankfully, through my friendship with Josh, I was able to get to know him as well as he seemed to already know me.

Tony has been a part of many of my most triumphant and my most embarrassing moments - some from karaoke, but others just from growing up and making mistakes. Throughout every one of these moments, I always felt like he genuinely wanted the absolute best for every person in our group of friends. Whether that meant cheering us on in challenging times, giving us the business when we did something stupid, or just being someone to talk to when we didn't even know we needed it, he helped us all become who we are today.

I picture him now as I saw him many times while vacationing with the Skeens:  sitting on the beach, hat and glasses firmly fastened, in a comfy chair with a cooler handy, blissfully untroubled by the world's commotion. Rest in peace, Tony.







Tony was truly a good man with a beautiful family. I loved to hear him 🎤 sing karaoke. He had a beautiful voice and put his heart and soul in his songs. He will be missed but dearly remembered by many.  

I had the wonderful pleasure of knowing tony for about 20 years now. We had a lot of good times, hanging out, listening to music and drinking beer. Tony always treated me with respect like a brother. Tony was a good man, and will be greatly missed. R.i.p Tony, love you brother. 

My precious uncle Tony. My most recent and favorite memory was at dinner for Brittany’s 28 birthday. We sat around the table in Iron Age, and uncle Tony was telling me a story about his coworkers from the railroad. Watching him tell the story and seeing the joy on his face and just how happy he was, was everything. My sweet uncle always helped provide for my siblings and I when we needed something, he always made sure we knew he loved us. I will always be grateful to have known such a wonderful man and be able to have called him my uncle. I will miss him dearly. I love you uncle Tony. 

I have so many wonderful memories with tony. My favorite has to be when Joshua, Trevor, Madison, and Brittany were little at chick-fla-la. The kids got ketchup on some people and Tony was quick to stand up for those kids. We later went into the circus like nothing happened and had a great time. He was always like my brother, he was always there to help and lend a hand for me and all my children. The smartest man I knew. We loved playing music trivia, we were just blown away how he knew every song. He was a wonderful man. My family and I loved him dearly. 

Precious Son Tony,
Thank you for your gifts of comfort and humor...and many more.
I remember the day I had to have some moles removed was so nervous about it.  You looked at me so serious and said; "Mom, the doc is just going to come out of the room and tell me: "We did all we could for her."  Your solemn manner had me laughing so hard my stomach ached and I was completely at ease.  You knew how to comfort me via your humor!  You had a beautiful talent and your gift to your mom all your life from the time you were four years old and carried a snake from our apartment cause I was going nuts.  You went with me to look for Dad the night we worried about him not getting home on time.  You were not beyond making up a little white lie if you'd be sure it would work to help me with my nerves.  Whenever I was upset I could count on you to help in times of distress.  I always knew I was blessed and thankful in 1958 when God blessed two young parents who were so inexperienced in raising a child.  He knew we needed an especially sensitive and bright son because we were so young.  Sometimes I travel back in time and can hear your little voice calling: "Mommy, I love you".  It is times like that I just want to feel you in my arms and wish I could just hold you for a little while, hug you and help wipe away any fears or sadness you have experienced.  I wish I could have stopped all the hurt and insecurity that your life has brought you and especially anything I did to cause you pain.
 Dad and me tried to let you know how much we loved you because we always did and still do.
Thank you for giving everything to your family, and oh especially for Joshua and Brittany our precious grand children.   I thank you Tony,  for wonderful memories of tears ,fun,  comfort , and much much laughter you brought into this mom's life.  I could never tell you how much you have meant to me but I know you are in Jesus Christ's arms and are probably making Him laugh right now !! Love you.  Mom



I met Tony on Facebook only a few months ago.  We both worked on th Southern and NS. I was on the Alabama and then the Tennessee Div. We shared the same views on  holding fair and impartial investigations on rule violations. I really liked his rr stories. He told them so it made you feel like you were right there. The one I liked the best was the one where the crew would break in a new hire. He and the engineer would talk back and forth and in their conversation they would make reference to "you know, kinda like a henweigh" . After several references to "A Henweigh" the new hire would ask Tony " what's a henweigh? Tony would say I don't know maybe 4 or 5 pounds" The hook was set. He will be a great loss to his family and friends My deepest condolences to his family. May God give you comfort during this time of grief.

Gary? How did I not know about Gary? Did I know about Gary? Is this Tony getting the last laugh?! You son of a bitch. I will miss you. I met Tony when I was in the eight grade. He was my best friend Josh's dad and the closest i'll ever have to my own. I have to thank Tony for keeping me alive on our many adventures. Ol' Tone knew how to knock some sense into his teenage/early twenties boys even if it meant almost KNOCKING sense into us haha. We somehow always got into some sort of trouble and there was Tony admonishing us, but always with a smirk letting me know he'd been there before ha. Gatilnburg, Hilton Head, Tampa, I was always treated as part of the family and I hope he knew how much that meant to me. I very much enjoyed performing around Tony. I will always remember how he was impressed with my rendition of "Ice Ice Baby" once in Gatlinburg.  We shared a passion for singing (or in my case poorly "rapping" that night ha). I remember preparing a speech as the best man for Josh's wedding and thinking "You can be funny, but make sure you look at Tony to see if it's going well cause you don't want to disappoint." Of course we all had a great time, but I wanted to make Tony proud and he was. He was very proud of his family and I know he still is. Godspeed Tony, Love you and thank you for all you taught me.

The thing that I always liked most about Tony is how quick he was to invite others to his family.  Whether it was sitting on his porch, hanging out at Birdie's, or being invited to go with them on vacation, he treated me like a son from the very start.  I will never forget when Tony referred to me as "the voice of reason" and told me he loved having me around the group.  My memories of Tony will always be a hard-working man that would give everything from himself unto others he cared about to make sure they were taken care of and happy.  He will be missed. I hope he's enjoying the Great Watermelon Crawl in the sky.

Susan and I met Tony and Denise around 2009 while singing karaoke at Birdie’s  in Hiram.  We told Tony and Denise we would never forget their names because my ex wife was named Denise and Susan’s ex husband was named Tony!😂 We would see them almost every week at karaoke and became friends. We got to know each other and I repaired  Tony and Denise’s car occasionally.  You were a good man and friend to us . You were always honest and straightforward about everything.  We will miss you so much Tony! 

My Uncle Tony was a story teller... one of the best story tellers I have ever known. He was just like his dad in that way, which we all know as  Ditta, what all the grandkids called him!

My memories of my uncle take me back to my childhood, and specifically, Hilton Head family vacations. He wasn’t the boring uncle, rather, he was what I like to call a “funkle” - fun uncle. He would go out into the oceans waves with the kiddos, including myself, and he would pretend we were Arnold Schwarzenegger battling the waves using the voice and all. 

The best story of all is how Tony would pretend his arm was turning into “the claw” when I was little. If I remember correctly, it started when I was just a little kid on those Hilton Head family vacations and it never, ever stopped. As a kid, it was always fun and exciting to be around Uncle Tony because you never knew when “the claw” would come! Funny thing is even into my adult hood the claw was an inside joke that never ended...

Not only did he tell amazing stories, but he created them by being such an incredible person. I know my uncle Tony as a man of joy, kindness, and love for family, and most importantly, the Lord. I love him and I miss him already. Quite frankly, I am still in shock, but I do know without a shadow of a doubt he is in Heaven with Jesus - free of pain and sorrow! And he is with other family members who have gone before him, including my sweet mother (his sister) and his dad (my Ditta).

The memories I shared are less than a drop in a bucket as I could write all day about the wonderful stories of my uncle. I will miss him; he will forever be missed as he was a one-of-a-kind person who made the world a much better and happier place! It just won’t be the same in our family without him here, and that hurts so much, but we will all see each other again in Heaven as our family trusts in the Lord Jesus Christ!

Though I never knew Tony personally, I knew him through his stories on the Southern Railroad FB Page.  I have always loved the railroad and his stories made me feel like I was there with him.  The stories were so real and so funny that I read them to my family -- sometimes edited for language😁.  So, we all shared his stories and laughed together.  Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.

I have so many great memories with Tony that its hard to know where to begin. 

I met Tony back when I was in high school and started hanging out with Josh. Over the years, it turned from him being my friend's dad into him being a good friend of mine and a second dad to me.

I will never forget all of the fun trips that he brought me along on with his family. From Gatlinburg to Tampa, Tony would include myself and many of the other guys to come along for the fun. When I graduated college, Tony invited me to come along with his family on a trip to Disney to celebrate. 

One specific memory I will always treasure is one year when I went with the Skeen's to the beach for a vacation and Tony and I had some one on one time on the beach over a few cold ones (cylinders, as those who were on that trip will remember). He was always quick to give advise and also not to mince words. I knew if Tony was telling me something, that it was worth listening to. I always appreciated his counsel and took it to heart.

If there is one thing I am certain of, it is that Tony loved his family and anyone he considered family. I've never seen a dad who would be willing to go through more just to make his family happy. Even though I was not his son, I know that I could have called Tony in any time of need and he would have been there.

He will be truly missed.

I remember when all is cousins were little , and we would be in the living room with the grown ups. Uncle Tony always had a story to tell us youngins! One that I remember most was that he told us that Barney the Dinosaur had an evil twin called Yenrab (Barney backwards) and that he would eat children if they miss behaved.  We always loved that one for some reason. You could always hear Him and Ditta laughing loudly in the living room telling old stories from his childhood. 
We will always treasure those times we spent together in Hilton Head and family gatherings at Nana's house.  I can't wait to see him in heaven again along with Ditta, Tisha, and many other family members.


When Tony came into our lives almost forty years ago, he was instantly a member of the family - with his great sense of humor, he fit right in. We made some great memories at our grandmother’s house, where Tony would listen and support, but never “meddled.”   Tony was very passionate about the being a union rep, and we all loved the stories of how he helped his fellow workers.   My best and most enduring memories are of our family vacations to the Smoky Mountains - watching football during the day, followed by karaoke at night Crawdaddy’s.  My dad loved spending time in the mountains with Tony,  singing and drinking beer!   

I dont know tony, never met tha man, but one thing i do share is a life long career with tha railroad. I worked for the Central of ga , southern ry out of columbus, ga . I first read one of tony"s rr stories a while back and instantly recognized  tony was a man who butted heads with many officials on the railroad  in pursuit for making sure his brothers and sisters  working beside him got a fair shake from the powers that be . And i as read more and more of his trials and tribulations with the rr i truly admired him for sticking up for folks and telling it like it is . I laughed right along with so many others about the situations he encountered because there were incidents that i myself and others had to deal with 
in our everyday dealings with the railroad way of life . I looked forward to reading another escapade of the life of tony skeen because he made u feel you were right there with him on some of his little jokes and situations, lord knows folks that worked on the railroad are a mischievious bunch , the southern rulebook had a rule about no "horseplay" ,i can assure you it was broken many times all over the system . Myself and many ,many others can identify with him so easy because of his personality and matter of fact way of doing things . I truly was at a loss for words when i read a few days ago of his passing , dangit, nothing makes me sadder than to see a fellow rr man work his whole life and then leave this world before he draws a good amount back from his retirement, lord knows he paid his dues to get it .  All tha many folks out there will certainly miss tony's input on the southern ry board . I would like to express my sincere condolences to everyone in tony's family and also his many friends all over . Heaven gained a great man and a very wise conductor for sure , clear signals and #8 tony skeen , thanks for touching my life along with so many others .



Tony was one of a kind. He was always so much fun on karaoke nights,  and he was a loyal friend.   Denise, Britty, and Josh - I know how much he loved you guys. More than anything. I’m sending so much love and light your way.  

I never had the pleasure of meeting Tony, and knew him only through his stories and posts on a Facebook Southern Railway group, but I loved those stories and looked forward to new ones. I in fact invited a friend to join that group just so he would get regular access to those stories. I'm so sorry for the family's loss, and I will miss his stories immensely. 

I went to school with Tony at Campbell High - Class of '76.  We were kind of like the "rat pack" at least in our Junior / Senior years - me, Tony, Dennis Smith, and a couple of others.  We loved the Panther Football Games and going to Gigi's Pizza over off South Cobb Drive and Concord Road afterwards.

Some crazy times back then, but we had lots of fun.  We were not the IN CROWD, the jocks, or anyone really special - we were just everyday guys hanging out together and talking girls and CARS of course.

My memory is a bit faded of all those times, as it has been over 45 years ago.  Lost touch with Tony and most of the Class of '76 as I went into the U.S. Air Force for 20 years.

Reconnected with Tony on FaceBook about 6 months or so ago.  He had not really changed all that much - still a "firebrand" like he was at Campbell.  So sad that we, the Campbell HS Panthers Class of '76 has lost another brother - one of way too many.  Hope he is REJOICING in heaven, as Tony could only do!

Tony's Unkle Ken was just a child when he was born, so we sort of grew up together. While we lived far apart as adults and the pressures of adulthood kept us apart, I will remember Tony as one of the sweetest, most intelligent and kindest people I ever knew. My best memories are of Tony as a young child in Mama Edie's back yard telling everyone he would grow up to  work for the railroad and drive trains. Love you Tony, 

Tony This makes the 3rd time I have tried to leave a memory lol. I’m definitely going to miss going to karaoke with you and  Denise.and hearing you sing Watermelon Crawl. Most the time I had to do the watermelon crawl when we left or rather the fireball crawl. I’m going to miss you so much Cuz . I Always told you that I love you R.I.P Tony 😘❤️🌹🎤

Going to miss you big guy. We met some 20 years ago and we later became friends because of our work with the union. We used to share stories of investigations and discuss ways of helping out our brothers and sisters in our union. You were a stand up guy, a man’s man. Grateful for our conversations in the past and all the advice. I’m sorry we never got a chance to do karaoke together as we had talked about and I’ll miss your posts. Rest easy “Grumpy Old Conductor” and I hope you don’t end up voting Democrat in November. 

Sorry if that last part offends anyone, I know Tony would have laughed at that. 

It was so obvious that Tony Loved his family and our country. He bragged and defended both many times on social media. He made me laugh many times with his sense of humor. I was a fellow train lover and enjoyed his railroad stories. He will always be remembered but sorely missed. May God be with his family during this trying time and I will raise a glass to a man I consider a friend. - Bill M. Cherokee, Alabama

There isn't a person who went to Birdies that didn't know Tony. He was always happy to share a beer, a song, and a laugh with you. Tony and Denise always treated me like family, I always knew I could come and hang out and anything going on in the world didn't matter as much. Tony will be so missed by everyone that knew him. I know he's up at a karaoke bar on heaven, waiting for us to prop him up beside a jukebox. 

My love and prayers are with Denise, Josh, and Brittney. 


My oldest memory of Tony was that of the official driver on Friday nights after Campbell football games.  I believe it was a green camaro with racing harnesses for seatbelts.  Pat and I always had to ride in the backseat as we cruised around Smyrna, mostly between GiGis Pizza and McDonalds.  It was simpler times and good memories.  Praying God's peace will surround and fill your family, as y'all mourn, remember and celebrate his life.

A first class man and a superb Railroad Man.  Clear boards all the way Cap—-skin it back!!

Tony.....you big goof ball....yea thats what I called you many times. I met you and Denise at a Karaoke show and I said to Laura....that man can sing. Later that night we talked and a great Friendship started. I always had a big smile on my mug when I saw you and Denise come through the door. Thank you for all the Karaoke memories.  Gather the Angel's and show them how this Karaoke stuff works. Gonna miss you Tony...you big goof ball.....

I do not have the words to express how much I love you. I miss walking down stairs and telling you I'm leaving and will be back later. Texting you and asking if you could get me chick fil a. I miss you asking me if I am using the car. 
You supported me and stood up for me and knew I could achieve anything I set my mind too.
I am thankful I could make you so proud before you passed and I will continue to make you proud, dad.
I have so much I am already missing and hurting over because I loved my dad. 
No one should have to bury their dad. 
I do not know how I will do this, but I am trying to be strong and handle this the way I know you would want it to be held. 
I love you daddy, so much. 
Your gerberfeed girl.

Tony was one of the family. We met him and Denise at karaoke and we became friends fast! We spent every weekend together for years at Birdies and Buffalo's. Tony was a great singer and an even better friend. Denise and him were involved in my kids lives as much as mine and Jimmy's. We went on vacation together, spent holidays together, went to concerts together. The universe got this wrong. He shouldn't be gone. He should be here singing "Prop me up beside the jukebox" and making us laugh with his silly jokes. This world is gonna suck without you. Love you, Tony. 

I will miss Tony's big bear hugs !! Whenever he would compliment people at karaoke I would always ask " what about me.what am I chopped liver ? He,would always give me a special " NO, I LOVEEE YOUUUU!!!😘💖🤗😘💙🤗

OBITUARY

Gary "Tony" Skeen

11 July, 1958 – 8 August, 2020

Winkenhofer Pine Ridge Funeral Home and Memorial Park

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services