SUSAN GAYLE KING SKILLEN

Susan Gayle King Skillen, 68, of Little Rock, Ark., passed away Friday, Aug. 11, 2017, at her home. She was born Oct. 10, 1948, in Tahlequah, Okla., to John Hays and Alma Wagoner King. At 6 months of age, she and her family moved to Hayti, Mo. After graduating from Hayti High School, she attended one year at the University of Missouri, graduating with a BES degree from Southeast Missouri State in Cape Girardeau, Mo. She taught sixth grade in Hayti and Webster Grove, Mo., for three years, then embarked on a career in ladies fashion.

As her great-aunt Grace Hays was ready to retire, Grace asked her if she was interested in taking over management of Hays and King Clothing Store in Van Buren, Ark. In 1973, in partnership with cousin, Jim Buchanan, she began operating Hays and King as manager. With the business up and running, she became involved in her community. She served as member and president of the Van Buren Chamber of Commerce and was member and president of the GFWC chapter, later serving as the 1988-1990 state president. She involved herself in PEO chapters in each city in which she lived and was a member of D.A.R.

In 1984, Gov. Bill Clinton recognized Susan for her exceptional accomplishments with her involvement in the Arkansas Community Development Program. She also involved herself in the Fort Smith Leadership program and was recognized for her efforts to establish the Crawford County Adult Learning Center in 1994. In addition to other numerous awards and recognitions, she was chosen as the Van Buren Outstanding Citizen of the Year and received the Iverson Rigg Memorial Award in 1996. She nurtured and guided many young women in the business world while setting a great example of how to properly operate a business and treat people with respect. Those young women are counted among some of her richest treasures.

She was a devout member of St. John United Methodist Church in Van Buren, where she served as Sunday school teacher, youth leader and in different capacities on various church committees. She also served on the merger committee that founded Heritage United Methodist Church in Van Buren. Her faith was always an important part of her, and she lived out her faith daily.

After Susan married Richard H. Skillen on Oct. 15, 1993, she decided to close her clothing business and follow him to his home in Pine Bluff. Upon arrival, she became director of the Clean and Beautiful chapter and later took a position with the Alliance of Jefferson County as volunteer coordinator.

Following her husband’s retirement in 2000, her brothers invited her to join them in the family grocery business in Eastern Arkansas and Southeast Missouri. At that time, the move was made to Wynne. The constant theme in her life was people, so her job with Hays Supermarkets as human resource manager was a perfect fit.

While living in Wynne, her faith naturally dictated she become involved in the Wynne First United Methodist Church, serving as Sunday school leader and in different capacities on various church committees.

In April 2015, she decided to retire and move to Little Rock to be closer to her grandchildren.

Mrs. Skillen was preceded in death by her parents, John Hays and Alma Wagoner King.

Survivors of Mrs. Skillen include her husband, Richard H. Skillen; one daughter, Kady S. (Alan) Hill; two well-loved grandchildren, Emerson and Whitaker Hill; brothers, David A. King and his wife, Joyce, and Michael J. King and his wife, Kay; nieces, Amy Louise (David) Gullic, Susannah H. King, Joy S. (Dan) Crunk and Jan S. (Lee) Workman; nephews, Jon D. (Ashley), Michael J. (Jessica) King, Jeff (Sara) and Joe (Anna-Karin) Skillen; 16 great-nieces and great-nephews and four great-great nieces.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Jamie Pennington and Dr. Monica Lo for their care and concern, the many friends who are like family who loved and supported Susan, Arkansas Heart Hospital and Hospice Home Care of Little Rock.

Memorial services for Mrs. Skillen were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15 at Roller-Chenal Funeral Home in Little Rock, Ark. Visitation was held from 6-7:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 14. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Arkansas Heart Hospital Foundation, 10802 Executive Center Dr., Suite 110, Little Rock, AR 72211 or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105. The online guestbook can be found at www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal .

Roller-Chenal Funeral Home of Little Rock, Ark., was in charge of arrangements.­­