Mary Skinner, 91

Mary Alice (Buhl) Skinner, 91, passed away surrounded by her family at her home in Hayden, Idaho, on May 22, 2021. She was born in Ritzville, Wash., on April 30, 1930, joining her brother, Robert, as the children of Arthur and Celina Buhl.

She attended school in Ritzville. Before her senior year ended she had completed all of her requirements to graduate as the Valedictorian and secured a job as a legal secretary for Miller & Miller Law Offices.

She met her future husband, Richard W. Skinner, at the tender age of 6 and finally married him on April 15, 1950. They welcomed a daughter Linda Sue on May 9, 1951, and a son, James Richard, on her 24th birthday.

In 1958 the family moved to Pullman, Wash., where she continued working as a secretary in many different capacities from the Irwin, Friel and Myklebust law office, to the offices of Economics & Business and Agronomy at Washington State University.

She was actively involved with her kids' activities as a Cub Scout Den Mother, Sunday school teacher and secretary of the PTA.

In 1974, she and Dick moved to Coeur d’Alene, where she once more worked in the legal field.

After enjoying many summers at Priest Lake, Idaho, they realized their dream by purchasing their own lakefront paradise there. Together they built a family retreat now loved by the third generation of their family.

They retired to Priest Lake but spent their winters snow birding, often with family and friends throughout the United States, eventually purchasing a site in Cathedral City, Calif.

Mary volunteered with the Priest Lake Library. She also enjoyed playing bridge, swimming, reading and dancing.

Throughout her life she had a craft project underway, enjoying knitting, crochet, sewing and quilting.

She is survived by her husband, Dick, at the family home; son, James of Omak, Wash.; daughter, Linda and husband Alex McGregor of Pullman, Wash.; grandchildren, Ian and Jessica McGregor of Hooper, Wash., Kate and Scooter Lyle of Cheney, Wash., and Emily McGregor of Hooper, Wash. Her adorable great-grandchildren, Abigail, Genevieve, Lillian, Olivia, Scarlett, Willa, and Alexander McGregor, Claire, Collin, Adele, Isabella and Elizabeth Lyle also survive her.

We wish to thank, from the bottom of our hearts, Nurse Mary with home health, and all of the wonderful people of North Idaho Hospice for their compassionate care of Mary and her family.

At Mary’s request no services will be conducted.

Contributions in her name may be sent to Hospice of North Idaho, 2290 W. Prairie Ave., Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho, 83815 or Kootenai Humane Society, P.O. Box 1005, Hayden, Idaho, 83835.

Arrangements provided by Yates Funeral Home.