Lester Otis Skinner, Sr. passed peacefully from this life on July 29, 2023, in Perkins, Oklahoma. He was born on March 10, 1929, to Lester Nathaniel and Sylvia Marie Skinner, in Maramec, Oklahoma.
Lester married Rose Duvall and to their union was born six children: Sandy, Lester, Jr “Bub”, Larry, Wayne, Ronnie, and Randy. Later, Lester married Barbara Jennings, to their union he added a son, Timmy. Lester would later marry Vivian Light and adopted her daughter, Jaden Chambers.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Lester and Sylvia; his sister and brother-in-law, Charlene and J.D. Eikenbary; his daughter Sandy; his sons, Wayne and Ronnie; and great-grandchildren, Noah Wilhelm, Anna Skinner, and Justin Craig, II.
He is survived by son Lester, Jr. and wife Debbie of Stillwater; Larry and wife Kris of Yale; Randy and wife Myra of Ada; son Timmy Skinner of Yale; daughter Jaden Chambers of Ponca City; sister and brother-in-law Oleta and Howard Ellington of Yale; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren.
Lester was raised in the Maramec area. He would later graduate high school in Dewey, Ok. He would develop a great work ethic from his parents and also a deep love of animals.
In 1951, Lester would move his family from Maramec and buy a dairy farm just south of Buffalo, New York. Sometime later, Lester would begin to work for Kansas City Millwright and built several large tanks and stacks in Buffalo. Lester began to travel and build tanks. He would eventually move his family to Clinton, Missouri.
In 1972, he cofounded Skinner Construction Company, in Yale Ok., with his son Larry.
Once again in the Maramec area, where he grew up, Lester bought a large farm and raised cattle and buffalo. He would feed and care for any animal in which he crossed paths; therefore, he seemed to always have a pack of loyal dogs.
Lester soon had a small herd of buffalo, and he loved spending his time taking care of his animals. He was proud of his farm, and anyone who visited would get to meet his prize bison “Buffy and Old Woman.” Lester would later donate his bison herd to the Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, where they can be seen today.
He enjoyed watching high school basketball with his cousin Bill. They attended almost every game at Yale for a number of years. He was proud to point out to everyone seated around him if he had a grandkid that was playing.
He was a very generous man and often helped those with needs and supported many local churches and organizations.
Services have been entrusted to the care of Palmer Marler Funeral Home. Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, August 2, at Lawson Cemetery in Yale, Oklahoma.
