1941 - 2022
Larry Leon Skinner, 81 years old, went to heaven with his family by his side on August 19th, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
Larry was born in Liberal, Kansas, January 27, 1941. He graduated from Limon High School in 1958. He continued his education at Colorado State University, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Arts, and later earned a Master’s degree from the University of Northern Colorado. He married Ava Grace Orrell on June 17, 1962. Larry had a passion for farming and did so until 2012. In addition to his work on the farm, he taught school, initially in Broomfield and Boulder, Colorado. Later Larry, Grace and their family moved to Limon, Colorado, where he continued to teach Industrial Arts at Limon High School for the remainder of his teaching career.
He was respected by his peers, the administration, and his students, and received the “Colorado Industrial Arts Teacher of the Year” award in 1977. Larry loved developing friendships, both in and out of the classroom. He had an uncanny ability to reach people in a deep and positive way. He was a wonderful and loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend. Larry cherished his family and loved them deeply with all of his heart. “Mr. Skinner” thoroughly enjoyed high school sports and he and Grace traveled all over Colorado attending sporting events.
Larry will be remembered for many things, such as his grace while battling his diagnosis and treatments, his belief in the good of everyone he met, and his eternal optimism and joy in life. His legacy remains in each and everyone who had the fortune to meet him. Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Adrian and Opal Skinner and his sister Karen Sinn. He is survived by Grace, his wife of 60 years, daughters Shannon Stone (Rick Stone) and Stacie Mercier (Alex Mercier), sister Connie Diffee, brother Boon Skinner (Carolyn), grandchildren, Ashley Keith (Tyler Keith), Aaron Stone, Emily Mercier, Allison Mercier, great grandchildren, Cooper Keith and Cohen Keith.
A Celebration of Life will be held September 17, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at the Limon High School gymnasium. A grave-side service will follow. Memorial Contributions Lincoln Health Hospice P.O. Box 248 Hugo, Colorado 80821 Limon Education Association P.O. Box 249 Limon, Colorado 80828
