JOHN P. SKINNER

Palmer resident John Phillip Skinner, 54, died peacefully in his sleep on July 21, 2004, after suffering from a long-term illness.

Graveside services were held at Fort Richardson National Cemetery on Thursday, at 3 p.m., with military honors.

Mr. Skinner was born Sept. 20, 1949, in Savannah, Ga., where he was raised. He joined the Navy in 1967 and became an avionics technician. He moved to Anchorage in March 1984, where he lived until 1998. He made the Valley his home from 1998 until his death. He worked for Lockheed Support Services from 1984 until his illness. He belonged to First Baptist Church in Georgia and Midtown Christian Center in Anchorage. Mr. Skinner loved gardening, hunting and fishing.

His family said of him, "John was kind-hearted, a loving father and had an excellent sense of humor. He loved Alaska. He is now pain-free and at peace at last."

He was preceded in death by his mother, Ola Skinner, on Dec. 28, 2002, and by his niece, Bailey Skinner, both of Savannah.

He is survived by his wife, Cathie Russell; sons, Jessie, 18, Clinton, 15, and Phillip, 14, all of Wasilla; father, Harry Clinton Skinner; brother and sister-in-law, Charles and Tory Skinner; nephew, Brad Skinner, all of Savannah; and a niece, Hope Skinner, of Colorado.

The family requests that memorial donations be sent to Hospice of Mat-Su at 3051 E. Palmer-Wasilla Hwy., Wasilla, AK 99654.

Arrangements were made by Valley Funeral Home & Crematory in Wasilla.