Lynn W. Skinner, a resident of Pima, peacefully entered into eternal life Tuesday evening, December 8, 2020, at the Tucson Medical Center following a brief illness. Lynn was 74.
Lynn was born March 29, 1946, in Pima, Arizona, to Wilford Clyde Skinner and Chloe Lines. He was the youngest of five siblings: Gerald, Jean, Anne and Francis Del. He was a graduate of Pima High School and was active in athletics.
Following high school, he served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Great Lakes Mission. He married Joyce Cluff in the Mesa temple September 5, 1968. They have seven children, all boys but five. He graduated from Loyola School of Dentistry in Chicago Illinois, then returned to the Gila Valley where he practiced dentistry for over 40 years.
Lynn served in various church callings including stake and ward young men’s president, high councilor and bishop. He also served in the community as mayor of Pima, town councilman, school board member, Graham County Supervisor and a longtime member of the Safford Rotary Club.
He had a passion for horses, ranching, farming and family. He loved horseback rides with children, then grandchildren, family trips to Mt. Graham and round ups with the cowboys at the ranch. His love of horses carried over to Lynn and Joyce’s mission in Nauvoo where he served as a teamster. Another highlight for both of them has been serving in the Mesa and The Gila Valley temple.
Lynn was preceded in death by: his father and mother; his brother, Francis Del; a sister, Anne Butler; and four grandsons. He is survived by: Joyce, his wife of 52 years; his brother, Gerald; his sister, Jean; and children, Gwen and Nate Smith, Shelly and Tom Claridge, Del and Galina Skinner, Stacie and Richard Cluff, Sky Regard, Leisel and Dee Wilkins, Seth and Courtney Skinner; thirty-eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Lynn will be conducted Monday morning, December 14, 2020, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Pima Chapel. Concluding services will follow in the Graham Cemetery.
The family will receive friends Sunday afternoon, December 13, 2020, from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m., at the Vining Funeral Home and Monday morning from 10:00 a.m. until 10:45 a.m., at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Pima Chapel Junior Sunday School Room.
Online condolences may be offered at www.viningfuneralhome.com
Arrangements are entrusted to Vining Funeral Home.
