Geraldine Skinner Pexton

Geraldine (Geri) Skinner Pexton passed away on July 25, 2016 peacefully in her sleep at her West Valley home. She was 72 years’ young born on August 21, 1943 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Lloyd Freeman Skinner and Rose Marjorie Whitley Skinner. She graduated from West High School and took great pride in her school. She chose to take a job with the Salt Lake Tribune right out of high school and that was her continued education. She married Douglas Spillman in 1961. They had four children together, Joseph Spillman, who passed 3 days after birth, Veronica Ortiz, Tami Pacheco, and Douglas Spillman. They divorced in 1968 and she then married Richard Lee Pexton in 1969 who adopted her three children. They had a son, Richard William Pexton, together. They later divorced but Geri never stopped loving him. She never remarried.

Geri was a vivacious, positive, caring, loving woman. Her first priority was always her family. She buried her first born son shortly after birth, her second son when he was 16, and fought valiantly with her third son through nine different kinds of cancer. She always remained positive to keep his spirits up and never gave up hope for his healing. She buried him when he was 40 years young. She faced many trials in her life but had many joyous times also. She worked for 21 years at National Product Sales and supported herself and gave unselfishly to others. She loved her work and co-workers and made many friends while working there. She loved to decorate the window for NPS and always got many compliments on it. She was always asked to redecorate the window for each holiday or season. She was a creative decorator and designer. Her favorite holiday was Christmas because that meant that she would celebrate with her whole family in her home. There was always visiting, eating, picture taking, and of course present opening. She loved the time she got to visit with each person and cherished every moment, in fact, she never wanted to open presents because then everyone would leave. She delighted in shopping all year long for the perfect present for each person and was filled with joy to see the look on each face as those presents were opened. She was all about the giving but was also a gracious receiver as she was always so grateful for each and every kindness shown to her. She was a decorator to the end as her house was an absolute showcase. She delighted in change and changed the furniture around weekly sometimes adding new pieces that she found at great prices. Her garden was her other joy, created with her son Rick before his passing she strived to keep it just as they had created it. Rick planted Sunflowers and Daisies for mom as he knew they were her favorite flowers. He planted Honeysuckle vines, and Clematis vines all along her fence. There were bird feeders and lights, beautiful lights all over her garden. If she wasn’t shopping with one of her daughters or siblings, you would most likely find her in her home or garden. Family was always her number one priority and that is where she found the most pleasure and joy. She was very proud of her family and always delighted in a surprise visit at work so that she could introduce each and every one that visited to her co-workers and friends. She was a giving, joyful, intelligent, beautiful, amazing, and loving woman. She is and always will be deeply loved and missed.

She is survived by her daughters, Veronica Lynn Ortiz and Tami Joanne Pacheco, her brothers, William (Bill) Skinner, Byron Skinner and her sister, Eileen Michelle Newkirk. Also survived by her four grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her loving parents Lloyd F. Skinner and Rose M. Whitley Skinner, also her sons Joseph Spillman, Douglas Michael Pexton, and Richard William Pexton.

Services include two viewings to be held on Friday July 29, 2016 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm and on Saturday July 30, 2016 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm followed by Interment services all to be held at Valley View Memorial Park and Funeral Home 4335 West 4100 South West Valley City, Utah 84120.