Virgil E Skyles

Oct 4, 1930 – Aug 20, 2018

Virgil Eugene Skyles, longtime resident of West Linn, passed away unexpectedly Monday Aug 20, 2018.

Virgil was the oldest of 5 children of George and Bertha (Fielding) Skyles. He was born in Blackfoot, ID on Oct 4, 1930.

His family moved to Oregon in 1942. He attended Gladstone Grade School and Oregon City High School. His father started Skyles Well Drilling where he worked as a young man. From 1950-52, he served an LDS mission to Southern Oregon and Northern California. In 1954 he met and married Bobette Goodding and adopted her two children, Kirk and Maryette. They later had a daughter; Lorna then adopted 6 more children - Kevin, Susan, David, William, Andrew and Bruce. He also had several foster children - Richard Benally, Hipa Neria, John Firecrow, Ivan Firecrow, and Shane Brien.

He was a successful business owner of Lindsay Ecowater Systems. He spent 65 years in scouting. He volunteered for Head Start for 22 years and earned the Head Start Volunteer of the Year award in 1996, 1997, 1998, Clackamas County Volunteer Hearts and Hands award in 2000. He was awarded the Oregon Humanitarian of the year in 2004 and 2005. He was a nominee for the Oregon Governor’s Volunteer award in 2007. He helped over 400 kids in his time at Head Start.

He loved chocolate, gardening, BYU Sports, and golf.

Predeceased in death by his wife, Mary Bobette Goodding Skyles, daughter, Maryette Izola Skyles Starr, his grandsons, Danny and Jimmy Star; and his sister, Doris Skyles Moir. He is survived by his children, Kirk Skyles, Lorna Heppler, Susan (Randy) Sommers, David Skyles, Kevin (Teri) Skyles, William (Amber) Skyles, Andrew Skyles, Bruce Skyles, Richard Benally, Hipa Neria, John Firecrow, Ivan Firecrow, Shane Brien, and 25 grandkids and 48 great-grandkids with 2 on the way.

Memorial services will be held Monday, Aug 27th, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 1395 Rosemont Rd, West Linn. There will be a family and friends visitation from 9:30 – 10:30 followed by the funeral at 11:00.