Obituaries & Tributes

Carol J. Skinner: Nov. 6, 1932 – March 21, 2022

Carol Joyce Violette was born on Nov. 6, 1932, in Usk, Wash., the first child of Roy and Maxine Violette. She had two sisters, Nancy and Vera, and two brothers, Dennis and Rick. 

Her parents eventually settled in the Cottage Grove area. Carol was a cheerleader at Cottage Grove High School. At a basketball game against University High in Eugene, she met Hal Skinner. They were married on Aug. 7, 1951 and had two sons, Mark and Gene.

Carol graduated from Eugene Business College, where she excelled in typing, shorthand, and other office skills, but she stayed home when the boys were young. Later, she went to work for the Springfield School District as a health aide, mostly at Centennial Elementary School. She also worked as the administrative secretary for Willamalane Park and Recreation District. She later worked with Hal in his accounting office.

Volunteering her talents and leadership, she was the state president of Epsilon Sigma Alpha, a philanthropic sorority. She also served in the school PTA and in several roles at Ebbert Memorial United Methodist Church.

Hal and Carol both earned their private pilot’s licenses and owned an award-winning antique aircraft. Carol’s commitment to helping and to excellence led her to serve in the Oregon Pilots Association as chapter president, state secretary, and west side vice president. They also served in the Oregon Antique and Classic Aircraft Club and helped start the Oregon Aviation Historical Society, where she was the curator of the museum at the Cottage Grove airport. As proud grandparents, Hal and Carol faithfully attended countless concerts, theater events, tennis matches, and anything else in which their family participated.

In 2019, Carol was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and moved to the Rawlin at Riverbend Memory Care. Even with this disease, she stood out. She was amazingly content, cooperative, peaceful, and pleasant during her time there.

A memorial service was held at Emmaus Lutheran in Eugene.

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