Her parents, Arthur R. and Ruby Emmons (French) Skoog, proudly welcomed their daughter into the world on September 23, 1921 in Malden, Massachusetts. She was educated in Keene and was a 1939 graduate of Keene High School.
Etta led a very interesting and active life. She skied, golfed, canoed, and paid most of her bills by walking around town. She was very active with the First Baptist Church in Keene, and traveled extensively with the American Baptist Board of International Ministries, to many countries around the world. She also traveled with the National Geographic Tours with her friends.
For many years, Etta worked for the former Central Screw Company in Keene. During the war, she became a sales manager while so many men went away to fight. She was the first woman manager for the company and she loved telling the story about how they decided to pay her, paying her more than the highest paid female and less than the lowest paid male.
Etta also served on the Keene Planning Board, worked more than 20 years with SCORE(Service Core of Retired Executives), and was a volunteer at the Cheshire Medical Center / Dartmouth Hitchcock, Keene until she was 90 years old. She also served on the boards of the American Red Cross, Monadnock Family Services, and The Woodward Home.
Etta also wrote and published a book “I’m Retired and I’m Glad”, which she used on many occasions during lectures and seminars she conducted at area businesses.
Etta was predeceased by her siblings, A. Warren Skoog, Barbara Warren, Beatrice Bonnette, and a niece, Joanne Desmond. She is survived by five nephews, Arthur Skoog and his wife, Annette, of Keene, Frederick Skoog and his wife, Louise of Colleyville, TX, Thomas Skoog and his wife, Lorrie, of Rushville NY, David Bonnette and his wife, Sue, of Cincinnati, OH, Jim Bonnette and his wife, Marie of Tampa, FL; a niece, Jean Youngblut and her husband, Barry, of Englewood, FL; and many grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
Her family wishes to thank the many caregivers at Langdon Place for the kind and caring comfort they provided her during her stay.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, August 3, 2018 at 11:00 AM in the First Baptist Church, 105 Maple Avenue, Keene. Burial will follow in the Woodland Cemetery, Beaver Street, Keene. Family and friends are invited to call on Friday from 10:00AM to 11:00AM at the First Baptist Church.
Flowers are always welcome for the memorial, or donations may be made in Etta’s memory to the First Baptist Church, 105 Maple Avenue, Keene, NH 03431; or to the NH Special Olympics, c/o Andy Bohannon, Keene Parks and Recreation, 312 Washington Street, Keene, NH 03431.
