Jackie “Jack” Leroy Skinner, 87, a resident of Blue Springs, MO passed away peacefully Wednesday, March 22, 2023 at the St. Luke’s Hospice House in Kansas City, MO. He was born April 19, 1935 to Ora and Opal (Piper) Skinner in Wheatland, MO.
Jack graduated from Wheatland High School in 1953. Jack spent his working career as a brakeman and a conductor for the Kansas City Southern railroad. He was a member of the Teamsters Union, and the Elks Lodge #501 in Joplin, Missouri. He enjoyed horse racing, rodeos and collecting railroad memorabilia. Jack loved his Chiefs, Royals, Tigers and even the Cardinals. He really enjoyed reading and listening to country music. Jack was a great father, who loved his family. He was the type of man that’d do anything for anyone. He liked going to Vesper Hall in Blue Springs and the Grain Valley Community Center to play Bridge, dominos, and pinochle.
Survived by his children, Tim Skinner of Kansas City, MO; Michelle Felker of Blue Springs, MO; Mark Skinner of Blue Springs, MO; Nikki Johnson and husband Ryan of Higginsville, MO; and Jeff Tatzko and wife Jessica of Lee’s Summit Missouri. He is also survived by his 16 grandchildren: Alexis, Kaylee Jo, Jake, Theresa, David, Krissi, Dylan, Chelsea, Desirée, Kolby, Hunter, Savannah, Drew, Adam, Jackson and Jason and 4 great grandchildren: Nova, Nehemiah, Ryker and Logan. He is preceded in death by his parents, both wives Sharon and Tanda: Six children: Gary Skinner, Terry Skinner, Mike Skinner, Rick Pryor, Jeff Pryor, and Sam Pryor.
His family will celebrate Jack’s life from 1-3:00 P.M. on April 15, 2023 at Vesper Hall, 400 N.W. Vesper St, Blue Springs, MO. The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to the St. Lukes Hospice House. Arrangements have been entrusted to Meyers Funeral Chapel in Blue Springs. Memories of Jack and words of comfort for his family may be shared at meyersfuneralchapel.com
To all of you: I am so sorry for your loss. We will all loved him and he will be sorely missed. We enjoyed meeting to eat and visit. I have never seen anyone with a memory like his. We joked he remembered back to being born. You could ask him a question and he could tell you the answer right away and who was who. We will see you on the 15th,
Elizabeth and I send our condolences to all members of Jack’s extended family. Jack and I are first cousins (his mother Opal’s maiden name was Piper) and we shared a lot of happy memories from our family gatherings back in the 1950’s. We were apart for many years pursuing our careers, Jack on the railroad and me in the military. But thanks to our cousin Darlene Keith’s “Piper Reunions,” at Springfield, Jack and Tanda and Elizabeth and I were able to have good conversations about what we had been doing the past 40 years. After that, Jack made a habit of calling me every year on my birthday and we would talk for an hour about the good old days. I will really miss Jack, he was one of a kind.
So sorry for your loss, Nikki. You will be in my prayers.