Nancy Ellen Skinner

Cherokee Nation citizen Nancy Ellen Skinner was born on December 20, 1950 during her father’s active military service in Cherry Point, NC. The daughter of Cherokee Nation citizen Gunnery Sergeant Thomas Jefferson and Juanita (Rowe) Ballew, Jr., both of eastern Oklahoma, Nancy grew up with one sister, Jeanne Anne. Her father served in the United States Marine Corps traveling extensively, before their family returned to Oklahoma and the Cherokee Nation. Nancy attended Sallisaw High School, attaining her GED ahead of her graduating class, was married, and continued her educational pursuits at Connors State College, Northeastern State University, the University of Central Oklahoma, and the University of Oklahoma. Nancy was much beloved by all those who knew her and loved learning, reading, people, and animals throughout her life. She worked at a number of professions, but her favorite was working as a Child Development Specialist in Edmond. She adored children, instilled in them a life-long love of learning, humility, compassion, care for others, music, and joy for life. Nancy was always by their side and in their corner in providing kind words, everlasting love, encouragement, advice, suggestions for good books, family stories, humor, jokes, and witty anecdotes. When she wasn’t working, she was going to yard sales and taking road trips to the local library. She was talented with anything raised in the soil, and possessed a green thumb raising beautiful flowers. She had a great sense of humor and loved to see you laugh, and she was always ready with a funny joke to share to brighten your day. Nancy was a volunteer with Special Olympics during its early formative years and served as one of the first known Boy Scouts of America Den Mothers whose pack was dedicated specifically for children with special needs. She never missed a chance to help someone that needed her. Nancy was loving, kind, sweet and generous with her time and talents. Her favorite activities were made even more enjoyable by her love of all kinds of music which she would uninhibitedly share throughout the day. She kept company at home with her feline friends, and enjoyed the view from her own yard the best. There was nothing more precious to Nancy than time spent with her family and friends, many of which were adopted as extended family.

Nancy passed from his life on October 5, 2021 at Tahlequah, OK , following a battle with Covid-19. She was 70 years old and will greatly missed by all who knew, loved, and cared about her and her spirit and joy; for life lives on forever through them.

Nancy is preceded in death by her grandparents, Robert Franklin and Flossie (Kindrick) Rowe and Thomas Jefferson and Lola Irene (Fanning) Ballew, and her mother and father.

Those left to cherish her memory include her children, Steven Richard Skinner and wife Annette Rae Foster of Richmond, VA, Lorna Anne Skinner-Emmons of Edmond, OK, Mark Alan Skinner and wife Juli of Tahlequah, OK, Richard Wayne Sharp, Roy Sharp and Edith Sharp. She leaves her sister, Jeanne Anne Leach of Vinita, OK. She also leaves two aunts, Joy Keener of Tulsa, OK, and Irma Hubler of Gore, OK. She lives on in her five grandchildren, Elizabeth Marie Emmons-Roam and husband Nathan Roam of Gore, OK, Grant Foster-Skinner and Quinn Foster-Skinner both of Richmond, VA, LaDonna Clabough, and Nicole Acrey-Kyger and husband Rickey; one great granddaughter, Alina Kyger; and numerous cousins, friends, and loved ones. She loved and was loved and the world was and is a much better place because of her.