Nancy Irene Skaife

Nancy Irene Skaife, age 91, of Columbus, Georgia, passed peacefully on June 9, 2026. Born on March 14, 1935, in Takoma Park, Maryland, she was the beloved daughter of the late Walter and Mildred Brown.

From her earliest years, Nancy’s creative spirit shone brightly. As a child she filled little booklets with stick-figure illustrations for the fanciful stories she invented, already dreaming of becoming a commercial artist. She graduated from Montgomery Blair High School, attended the University of Maryland in College Park, and studied art at the National Art School.

After graduation, Nancy brought her artistic talent to Washington, D.C., joining the advertising department of the iconic Woodward & Lothrop Department Store. There she worked as a fashion coordinator and model, and excelled as a layout and touch-up artist for newspaper advertisements.

In 1957, Nancy married Stanley T. Skaife of South Weymouth, Massachusetts, on the very day he graduated in Military Science from Georgetown University. Their life together began with an Army assignment at Fort Benning, Georgia, and would span more than three decades of moves and adventures as an Army Airborne Ranger family.

Together, Nancy and Stanley raised two children: son Lance Michael Skaife and daughter Kendra Blair Skaife. Their final Army move returned them to Fort Benning in 1981, where Colonel Stanley Skaife served as Director of the Department of Combat Development.

Throughout their military journey and long after, Nancy’s creativity and generous heart touched countless lives. In 1968 she began an annual tradition of hand-illustrated Christmas cards featuring clever caricatures of the Skaife family. What started as one card evolved into a beloved tradition of original birthday, anniversary, thank-you, and condolence cards, each proudly bearing her “Skaifemark Original” logo. At Fort Benning she also created the “D.C. Dolls” newsletter for wives of the unit, bringing joy and connection through her signature cartoon characters.

Even in her later years, Nancy’s artistic spirit continued. After moving to Spring Harbor in 2011, she brightened the community with her monthly door-poster series celebrating holidays, special events, and offering heartfelt thank-you(s) to staff and residents.

Nancy remained deeply involved in fashion throughout her life, modeling for Gayfers, Parisians, and Mansours, and working as a sales associate in fashion and cosmetics. Yet her greatest passion was giving to others. Following her heartfelt mantra—“a day without volunteering or giving to others is like a day without sunshine”—she poured herself into service. She contributed over 100 hours to Army Community Services and the Officers’ Wives’ Club at Fort Benning, supported the American Red Cross, served as a “Senior Lady” to the U.S. Army Infantry Center, and dedicated more than 1,000 hours as a “Super Volunteer” at the Columbus River Center for the Performing Arts.

To everyone who knew her—young and old, in military circles and her local community—Nancy was instantly recognizable by her trademark huge round black-rimmed glasses, large clip-on earrings, trend-setting style, quick wit, infectious humor, and boundless kindness. She was fun-loving, warm, and always ready with a clever remark or a thoughtful gesture.

Her interests and hobbies brought her lifelong joy: drawing and cartooning, long walks, reading, decorating, collecting movies (more than 2,700) and hardback books, enjoying matinees and theater performances, and—most tenderly—cherishing her time as “Gmaw” and “Gigi” with her grandchildren and great-granddaughters.

Nancy was preceded in death by her devoted husband Stanley Skaife, her parents Walter and Mildred Brown, her brother Thomas, and her sister Ruth.

She is survived by her children, Lance (Kimm) Skaife and Kendra Crall; grandsons Patrick (Jessie) Skaife and Dylan (Kimberly) Skaife; and great-granddaughters Mara Everly and Elinora Rose Skaife.

Nancy’s life was a beautiful tapestry of creativity, love, service, and joy. She leaves behind a legacy of art that brightened everyday moments, a heart that served without hesitation, and a spirit that will continue to inspire everyone fortunate enough to have known her. Her family will carry her warmth, humor, and generous love in their hearts forever.

Visitation for family and friends will be held in the Fisher Chapel at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 4071 Macon Road, Columbus, GA 31907 on June 26, 2026, from 10:00 am to 11:00 AM; a Celebration of Life service will follow in the same chapel at 11:00 AM.