The Richmond News, June 21, 2024

Tara Skelton

Tara MayAnn Skelton, 47, peacefully passed away to be with her Lord and Savior on June 17, 2024, at Ignite Medical Resort in Kansas City, surrounded by her loving family, after bravely battling cancer. Tara was born Nov. 24, 1976, in Independence, Iowa, the cherished daughter of David and Connie (Ohrt) Traver. She married Micheal Dennis Skelton of Wesley, Ark., on July 26, 1997. He survives her at their home. She is survived by her devoted son, Montana Lane (Brittany) Skelton of Richmond; two beloved daughters, GraceAnn (Kaden) Akins of Hollister and Michayla Skelton of the home; her precious granddaughter, Sadie Jane Skelton; her father, David Traver of Manchester, Iowa; and her mother and dad, Connie (Gary) Netherton of Richmond.

Other survivors include her brothers, Zach Netherton of Richmond and Jason (Kelly) Netherton of TegaCay, S.C.; father-in-law, Gene Skelton of Mount Pleasant, Tenn.; brother and sister-in-law, Farrel and Katie Skelton of Mount Pleasant, Tenn.; and nephew, Brody Skelton.

Known as a “bicentennial baby” because of her Nov. 24, 1976, birthday, Tara was raised with her younger brother Zach. While growing up, she participated in cheer, choir and art; was vice president of the FFA; and excelled in track, for which she received a college scholarship.

She graduated in 1995 from Tri-County High School. In 1997, Michael and Tara met while working at Lowe’s in Fayetteville, Ark. There, Tara was a front-end manager, and Michael was a lawn and garden associate. They went on their first date on March 31, 1997, Easter Sunday, going to the pool hall and bowling. Four months later, they were married on July 26, 1997, on the hillside of their Wesley property.

After two-and-a-half years of trying to conceive, Michael and Tara were blessed with their first child, Montana, who was born Oct. 6, 2000. Michael and Tara were blessed with their second child, GraceAnn, who was born April 26, 2004.

On Nov. 13, 2007, Tara, Montana and GraceAnn were involved in a terrible car wreck. While Tara was in the hospital, she was informed of being pregnant with a child, Michayla. Tara argued that she was there for a car wreck, not a pregnancy. However, they were finally able to convince her she was there for a car wreck, but she also happened to be pregnant.

On July 21, 2008, the miracle, Michayla, was brought into the world as a healthy baby, despite the challenges the wreck had put on the likelihood of the pregnancy. Around a year after Michayla was born, Tara and her family moved to Iowa. In 2010, they moved to Missouri.

On April 26, 2014, Tara, while roller skating at GraceAnn’s 10th birthday party, broke her left ankle. On Aug. 31, 2018, she broke the ball of her hip. On Sept. 4, 2018, she was taken to the emergency room, where they found that cancer had spread to her bones, causing calcium to leak into her bloodstream. She spent the following 28 days at North Kansas City Hospital in ICU and rehab.

Tara fought through all of those ups and downs through the years and got to see her first son, Montana, marry his wife Brittany on Aug. 21, 2021. She also got to see GraceAnn begin college in the fall of 2022. In addition, she got to see the birth of her first grandchild, Sadie Jane Skelton, and watch her grow a personality. And she got to witness her second child, GraceAnn, marry her husband Kaden on May 25, 2024.

Tara enjoyed dancing, scrapbooking, drawing, movies, going to the ballet, spending time with her family, playing board games, exercising her competitiveness, hosting parties, festivals, music, vocalizing (which she was very good at) and taking her kids to constantly experience new things.

Tara also was involved in the community. She was involved in PTO, dance, band boosters, youth cheerleading as a coach, FFA, high school-level cheerleading, substitute teaching; and she was involved in all her kids’ various sports and activities.

She would always make sure to tell us her favorite saying any time any of us kids left the house: “Be blessed and be a blessing.”

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Tara MayAnn Skelton Memorial Fund. They can be mailed or dropped off in care of the family to Thurman Funeral Home; 507 E. Main St.-P.O. Box 190; Richmond, MO 64085.

Visitation will be held 4-7 p.m. Sunday, June 23, at Rayville Christian Union Church. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, June 24, at the church. Interment will follow the services in Crowley Cemetery, Rayville.

Please share your memories of Tara with the family by visiting www.thurmanfuneralhome. com.