James Skelton

James Edward Skelton  -  January 12, 1934 - April 26, 2023

James Edward Skelton, beloved husband, father, and grandfather passed peacefully at home on Wednesday April 26, 2023, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. We are grateful to those who had a role in his care during his final days. He was surrounded in love and kindness in this final chapter of his life.

James was born in Linden, Texas, January 12, 1934, to parents Lone and Lena Belle Skelton. He earned a degree in Architecture from the University of Texas at Austin. On July 30, 1960, James and Margaret Morgan were married and settled in El Paso, Texas, where they would live for the next 40 years. While in El Paso, they raised two sons, Jeffrey and Peter.  In 2001, James and Margaret left El Paso for their dream home near Ruidoso, New Mexico.  James designed the home and they lived there happily for the next 20 years. They loved the views, the wildlife, their friends, and visits from family.  In 2021, they moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico to live near their son Peter and his family.James is survived by wife Margaret Skelton, granddaughters Victoria Skelton (husband Alex Sauer) and Maura Skelton, son Jeffrey Skelton (wife Suzan Skelton, grandsons Zachary and Brayden Gordy, and granddaughter Autumn Gordy), son Peter Skelton (wife Patti Dappen), niece Michelle Skelton (partner Cynthia Wilson), nephew Lance Morgan (husband Andy Rohr) and brother-in-law Dan Morgan (wife Suanne Morgan).

James had a keen sense of humor, a sharp sense of style, and was fond of Native American art.  The family is currently making plans for a memorial service to take place in Ruidoso, New Mexico in the Fall. Further details will be shared soon.  For more information contact jmskelcroft@gmail.com.

Thank you to everyone for your kindness and sympathy for James and the Skelton Family.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in memory of James be made to the Lincoln County Medical Center Auxiliary:   https://lincoln-county-medical-center.phs.org/about/our-community/Pages/ways-to-give-back.aspx