LaMerle Skipton

LaMerle was born in Prairie Dell, Texas, on the 11th of January 1936. A beautiful young lady, she graduated high school from the San Marcos Baptist Academy in San Marcos and attended the University of Houston. At 21, she married James (Jimmy) Kennedy Skipton, Jr., on the 4th of March 1957. They were so very much in love throughout their fifty-four year marriage.

Her life’s first devotion and commitment were to her family, her husband, Jimmy; and her five children, Kim Skipton of Lexington, Kentucky, Patricia Skipton Jones of Houston, Sharon Skipton of Jacksonville, Florida, James K. Skipton, III of Dripping Springs, and Suzanne Skipton Shelton also of Houston. Their welcoming family homes were always a labor of love for LaMerle. She spent much of her spare time in pursuit of fine antiques and yet one more spot for her signature strawberry vine motif.

The children’s varied interests led LaMerle to her most significant volunteer and philanthropic acts. She worked tirelessly for the Kinkaid School, the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show, the Houston Figure Skating Club, the Briarwood School and the Houston Pi Phi Mother’s Club. To cap her many years of service in the Houston Junior Forum, LaMerle led the organization as its President. In her later years, she enjoyed her membership in The Bluebonnet Society of Austin County and indulged her love of reading with her friends in The Ladies Reading Club of Houston. For many years, she enjoyed memberships in The Forest Club and The Houston Club. She was a member of St. John the Divine Episcopal Church and St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Bellville.

One of LaMerle’s proudest associations began in the 1980s, volunteering for her friend, Yvonne Streit, in the establishment of the Brookwood Community, a God-centered educational, residential, and entrepreneurial community for adults with special needs in Brookshire, Texas.

Offering compassion to others in need was another hallmark of LaMerle’s character. One of her final, and another favorite, volunteer positions she held was at her residence, The Forum at Memorial Woods. She served on the residence’s Board as the Health and Wellness Chairman.

LaMerle’s beloved husband, Jimmy, passed away in 2011. She was also predeceased by her parents, W.D. and Patricia York; and her brothers, Ronnie York and Dell York, Jr.

In addition to her children, her sons-in-law, David Jones and Robert Shelton, both of Houston, and her daughter-in-law, Laurie Skipton, of Dripping Springs, and seven grandchildren are left to cherish many happy memories with her. Her loving grandchildren are David and Jordan Jones, James IV and Andrew Skipton, and Shelby, Sara Beth and Sydney Shelton.

LaMerle’s greatest gift was her capacity to love each of her five children with the whole of her heart, meeting them each where they happened to be in life. She asked not that one be like another, but that each do their very best with the unique talents God gave them. Her success as a mother is unparalleled, and countless friends of her children will forever attest to her accomplishments in that regard. The depth of our love for LaMerle is eclipsed only by our sadness that she has gone, but we rejoice and give thanks for her perfect and eternal new life in heaven.

The memorial service, in LaMerle’s honor, will be conducted at two-o’clock in the afternoon on Thursday, the 14th of July, at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 717 Sage Rd. in Houston. The Rev. Alex Large, Senior Associate Rector for Parents, Children and Young Adult Ministries, will officiate the thanksgiving for her remarkable life and works.

Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception to be held in the adjacent Bagby Parish Hall.

The family would like to thank the staff at The Forum at Memorial Woods, especially Madeline Goldsmith, for their amazing gifts of love and care for LaMerle.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests that memorial contributions, in LaMerle’s name, be directed to The Brookwood Community, 1752 RM 1489, Brookshire, Texas, 77423, www.brookwoodcommunity.org/get-involved/give-to-brookwood/; or to the charity of your choice.