Clifford Karl Skinner

Clifford Karl Skinner, 94, of Hiattville, Kan., died at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, February 14, 2013 in the Prairie Mission Retirement Village in St. Paul, Kan.

He was born April 8, 1918 in Hiattville, the son of Francis and Emma (Maker) Skinner. He grew up and attended schools in Hiattville and Hepler, Kan. He attended tech school in Kansas City, Mo., and became a sheet metal specialist.

Clifford served in the US Air Force from March of 1941 until March of 1948 as a Tec. Sergeant having served in England, France, Germany, and on the Berlin Airlift.

After serving in the military, he purchased a farm and raised livestock before entering Prairie Mission Retirement Village in February of 2012.

Clifford was a member of the National Farmers Organization.

He enjoyed a simple life on his farm, hunting and fishing, reading western books, and raising livestock. He studied Bourbon County history and learned that on his farm in 1860 a log cabin was burned to the ground by Quantrill's Raiders.

Survivors are a son, Gary Skinner and his friend Barbara of Fort Scott, Kan.; a daughter, Jan Martin and her husband Robert of Uniontown; his granddaughters Susan Martin Lalman and her husband Dr. David Lalman, Janise Martin Loveridge and her husband Dr. Brian Loveridge, Julie Martin Reynolds and her husband Rodney Reynolds; his great-grandchildren Amanda Lalman, Will Lalman, Kade Loveridge, Janessa Loveridge, Trek Loveridge, Eli Loveridge, Nicholas Reynolds, and Noah Reynolds.

Clifford was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Geri Gregg.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m., Monday at the Smith-Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Girard with Elder Brenda Clement and Clifford's son-in-law, Robert Martin officiating. Burial will be in the Hiattville Cemetery with military honors by the Olson-Frary-Burkhart Post No. 1165, Veterans of Foreign Wars of Fort Scott.

The family will receive friends from 10:30 a.m., Monday until service time at the Smith-Carson-Wall Funeral Home where friends may call after 2:30 p.m., Sunday.

Memorials are suggested to the Uniontown Future Farmers of America and these may be left at the Smith-Carson-Wall Funeral Home, 518 W St. John, Box 258, Girard, 66743.

Condolences may be sent to www.wallfuneralservices. com.