Friday, February 14, 2025
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Lorah 'Sue' Skerrett, 91

| February 2, 2025 1:00 AM

Lorah "Sue" (Waddell) Skerrett was born Sept. 16, 1933, in Holcomb, Mo., to Earl Washington Waddell and Florence Vivian (Glover) Waddell. The youngest of eight children, Sue spent her childhood on the family farm, working in the cotton, soybean and corn fields. She and her older sister, Mary (Templin), would tell great stories of growing up on the farm: a caring family, daddy playing the fiddle and mama in the kitchen canning peaches and singing hymns. Sue and her sister, Mary, were best friends their whole lives.

In 1951, Sue graduated from high school and moved to Detroit, Mich. In 1956, she became a flight attendant for American Airlines and was based in Tulsa, Dallas, L.A., San Francisco and Boston. Her big smile, charming personality and gracious hostess skills made this a perfect career for her. Once she started traveling, she never looked back.

A few years later, Sue met Robert (Bob) Skerrett, and they had an adventurous dating life, as he was a Naval officer, and she was still being transferred around the country with American Airlines. They married in 1964. Two years later, Sue left the airline and began her life as a Navy wife. Sue and Bob lived in Hawaii and Washington, D.C. Their daughter, Mary, was born there in 1971.

In 1972, with Sue as a new mother, the family moved to Naples, Italy. She was a proud American and held down the fort at home while Bob moved through the ranks as a Naval officer. After three years overseas, Bob got orders back to the States, and they moved to Philadelphia, Pa., in 1975, where he achieved the rank of Captain at the Philadelphia Naval Base. When Bob retired in 1979, they moved to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, to be closer to family. In particular, Sue's sister Mary was living there. In Coeur d'Alene, Sue created a loving community and a home filled with family, friends and laughter. All were welcome. She also continued her love of travel and opened Cosmos Travel in 1982, and from 1990-1999 she worked with Alaska Airlines. In retirement, Sue enjoyed traveling, gardening, being with family and friends, and being very involved in Bible Study Fellowship.

After Bob passed in 2011, Sue found companionship and love in Christ with Chuck Walker, a friend and classmate of her and Bob's. Sue and Chuck continued to enjoy their later years together, often traveling throughout the country and celebrating her 80th birthday in Vienna, Austria!

The other light of her life was her grandson, Isaac, whom she adored.

She spent her last months in Portland, Ore., near her daughter, Mary, and family. On Jan. 18, 2025, Sue traded her in-flight wings for angel wings. Her final days were spent peacefully surrounded by friends, family, love and music. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, husband Bob and siblings Margie, Bobbie, Jim, Charles, Max, Rex and Mary. She is survived by her daughter, Mary, son-in-law David Koff, grandson Isaac Koff, nieces Barbara Templin and Janice Danzig, and numerous other nieces and nephews.

Sue balanced adventure and travel with a wonderful home life. We who know her love her smile, sparkle, hostess magic (come, y'all!), sense of humor, and deep and unwavering faith in Jesus Christ. Sue never met a stranger. She was accepting, patriotic and faithful, and she was the very best Mom.

Services will be held at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Coeur d'Alene on Feb. 15, 2025, at 11 a.m. Sue's final resting place will be alongside Bob at the U.S. Naval Academy Columbarium in Annapolis.