Helen Skipper

Helen O’Melia Skipper was born September 27, 1947 to the late Thomas Harrison O’Melia Sr and Virginia Harrigan O’Melia in Chicago, Illinois. Grove Hill, AL was her childhood home. She finished high school at Georgetown Visitation then attended the University of Alabama. Helen spent the first half of her adult life rearing her four boys, attending countless baseball and football games, among other activities. But, then her first girl arrived. Her granddaughter, Meagan, was where she devoted her energy. Then the other grandchildren arrived, and finally her great grandchildren.

Family, friends, reading, and cooking were where she spent her time. She was an outstanding cook and loved trying, altering, and creating recipes for family and friends. Her travels took her to many places. She spent many summers in Rhinelander, Wisconsin visiting the Richards family as well as friends and enjoying Crescent Lake as a child. Later as a mother she would make the same journey with the boys in tow. As her sons grew into adulthood, she greatly enjoyed spending time between her houses in Jackson and Orange Beach, AL. She played bridge in two local bridge clubs in Jackson for over four decades. The collection of books she has read is astonishing from history to mystery novels. She was a lifelong member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

She is preceded in death by her parents, infant twins and infant triplets.

She is survived by her husband of 52 years, George Washington Skipper III; their four sons, George Washington Skipper IV (Jennifer), Thomas Gray Skipper, Richard Carmichael Skipper (Debra), and David O’Melia Skipper (Jessica); brother Thomas Harrigan O’Melia, Jr. (Appie) ; eleven grandchildren, Meagan Skipper Hoven (Kipp), George W. Skipper, Robert Lawson Skipper, Kathryn Elizabeth Skipper, Edward Harrison Skipper, Jones Michael Skipper, Jessica Kristine Thomas, Elizabeth Marie Skipper, Richard Carmichael Skipper II, John David Skipper, and Mary Barnes Skipper and four great grandchildren, Lillie Clair Hoven, Helen Grayce Hoven, Nora Brady Hoven, and William Edward Gartman II.

A graveside service will be conducted at Trinity Memorial Gardens in Jackson, Alabama at 10:00 am Saturday, April 25th, 2020. A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date.

Her sons will be pallbearers. Honorary Pallbearers will be Laine Bolen, Betty Ann Bounds, Helen Guy, Anne Jones, Diane Johnson, Susan Long, Diane McCorquodale, Jean McInnis, Nancy Nolen, Helen H. Skipper, Edna Stewart, Peggy Stewart, and Nancy Woodson.

The family suggests that memorials be made in her honor to: Sacred Heart Catholic Church, P. O. Box 70, Grove Hill, AL 36451, Clarke Preparatory School, 20100 Hwy 43, Grove Hill, AL 36451 or Jackson Academy, P. O. Box 838 , Jackson, AL 36545