Ellison Riley Skeen Obituary (1923 - 2015)

Ellison Riley Skeen December 17, 1923 - January 6, 2015 OGDEN Ellison Riley Skeen, known by many as "Riley" or "Uncle Al", passed away on January 6, 2015, surrounded by his loving family. The youngest of six children, he was born December 17, 1923, in Ogden, Utah, to Jean Elizabeth Ellison and William Riley Skeen. Ellison was raised in Ogden, and attended Ogden High School and Utah State University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology. Ellison's mother died when he was 7 years old, and his father died when he was 16 years old. He lived with his brother Paul and family in Oregon and with his sister Ruth and family in Ogden, until he joined the U.S. Marines and honorably served his country in the Pacific Theater as a paratrooper. Ellison married his sweetheart, Wanda Grace Peterson, in 1947 in the Manti LDS Temple. They have 5 children: Riley Skeen (Linda), Cody, WY; Janet Skeen, S. Ogden, UT; Carol (Walt) Hays, Spring, TX; Laura (Farrell) Skidmore, Fruit Heights, UT; JoAnn (Nick) Nicholson, Rochester, MN. They have 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Ellison LOVED his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He had a special love for babies and also his grand-dogs. "Al" was also especially close to his siblings and cousins. Ellison worked at HAFB as Chief, Labor & Employee Relations Division and he retired on January 3, 1986. As part of his employment at HAFB, Ellison and Wanda and their family of three at the time, had the opportunity to live in Madrid, Spain, until they returned to their permanent home in Ogden. Ellison had a great love for nature and he loved to hunt, fish, camp and boat. He and Wanda also loved to travel and enjoyed many scenic drives around the country. The Skeen Family had numerous adventures on family campouts - some of them with funny and disastrous outcomes. They were always memorable! One of his other hobbies was making silver and turquoise jewelry, which he gifted to his family. Ellison had a wonderful work ethic and was always busy with one or more projects. He passed this ethic on to his children. In addition to his great love for his family, Ellison enjoyed spending his spare time at the Skeen Family Cabin at Scare Canyon. He and Wanda bought the property almost 40 years ago and Ellison planned and built the cabin from ground up. He was happiest in the mountains and loved to go up to the cabin and "pound nails." Building the cabin was a labor of love and Ellison has left a wonderful legacy for his family. Many family traditions began at the cabin. Ellison was a member of the LDS Church and served faithfully in many Priesthood callings, enduring to the end and firm in his testimony, Ellison was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, and two sisters. He is survived by his wife, Wanda; his five children; 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Special thanks to Dr. Richard Hall and Dr. Jerry John, their staffs and the nurses. Also the staff and aides at Right At Home and Caregivers Support Network for their kind and loving care. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, January 12, 2015, at the Burch Creek Stake Center, 4955 Adams Ave., S. Ogden. Friends and family may call at Myers Ogden Mortuary, 845 Washington Blvd., on Sunday, January 11 from 6 to 8 p.m. and Monday prior to the service from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. Interment will be at the Memorial Gardens of the Wasatch, where military honors will be accorded. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Wounded Warriors. VisitationMyers Mortuary - Ogden 100 Monroe Blvd. Ogden, UT 84404 January 11, 2015 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM ServiceBurch Creek Stake Center 4955 Adams Avenue Ogden, UT January 12, 2015 11:00 AM CemeteryMemorial Gardens of the Wasatch 1718 Combe Rd Ogden, UT 84403 January 12, 2015