Christopher Bruce Skaggs was born June 4, 1971 and passed from this life on October 26, 2020, at the age of 49. Chris was joined in marriage to Debby Bostic Skaggs on May 20, 1995. Chris is survived by his wife, Debby, of their home in Mammoth Spring, Arkansas; their four beautiful children, Dylan Skaggs, and his wife Haley, of Salem, Arkansas, Logan Skaggs, Justin Skaggs, and Lauren Skaggs, all of the home. Chris is also survived by his parents, John and Gaye Skaggs of West Plains, Missouri; his in-laws, Dan and Vicki Bostic of Mammoth Spring, Arkansas; one sister-in-law, Diana King and husband Dennis; one niece, Abby King, and one nephew, Ian King; other relatives; and many friends.
Chris was proceeded in death by his loving aunt Bonnie Trail, his grandparents, several aunts and uncles, and cousins.
Even though Chris was born in June, his life really didn’t begin until God found him the perfect parents, John and Gaye, who adopted Chris when he was three months old. Together, their family flourished on the family farm in West Plains, with the help of Chris’s beloved uncle, Gary Trail. In the last couple of years Chris was blessed with reconnecting with many of his birth family. This brought him great joy getting to know, and even meet some of his biological relatives. By all accounts they were equally as thrilled to get to know their brother, cousin, nephew and uncle. But it was Chris’s actual parents, John and Gaye, who raised the man that Chris would become, a sentiment he was quick to share with everyone.
Soon after graduating high school, Chris met his future wife, Debby, and the two of them began their life together in Mammoth Spring. During their early years together, Chris and Debby loved going to concerts, playing hours upon hours of cards with friends, and basically living their lives to the fullest. Chris started working as a radio announcer where he began calling ballgames for the Mammoth Spring Bears. This was the beginning of a life-long relationship Chris shared with the school and the town he loved. After leaving radio, Chris briefly worked as a cable installer before beginning his career as a locomotive engineer with BNSF, which lasted over 20 years.
As a boy, Chris was active in the 4H, FFA, and choir. In 1980, at the age of 9, Chris was the youngest exhibitor to show a champion at the Polled Hereford National Show, in Columbus, Ohio. Always a lover of sports, Chris enjoyed playing basketball when he was younger and was also a pretty good bowler (something he picked up from his mom). But nothing brought him more pleasure than watching his children play sports. Thousands of hours were spent in gymnasiums and ballfields. Chris helped coach several teams his children played on, and later, Chris once again became “the voice of the Bears,” when he became the public announcer at the school’s home basketball games. Chris was always there to support not only his own children, but all of the kids on the teams. Whether they needed a ride to games, a little advice, or simply a pat on the back, Chris believed in supporting and fostering the children in the community.
In the last few years of his life, Chris became more and more concerned with giving back to the community, both near and abroad. He worked with the school to raise money for the students, helped when neighbors were in need, raised money for St. Jude, and became increasingly more politically motivated. Chris believed that a society should lift its people up and not put others down, a belief he tried to practice with his own actions.
Chris’s greatest accomplishment was helping Debby raise four outstanding children. His legacy will be that of honesty, integrity, trust, and loyalty – all attributes which can be found in abundance in Dylan, Logan, Justin, and Lauren. His presence will be forever missed, but his legacy will live on.
Graveside services for Christopher Bruce Skaggs will be held on Saturday, October 31, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. in Riverside Cemetery in Mammoth Spring, Arkansas with Brother Bill Chambers and Farrell Nicholson officiating.
The family will receive friends on Saturday, October 31, 2020, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Carter Funeral Home in Thayer, Missouri.
Burial will be on Saturday, October 31, 2020 in Riverside Cemetery in Mammoth Spring, Arkansas with services under the direction of Carter Funeral Home, Inc. in Thayer, Missouri.
October 28, 2020 @ 10:34 am
Praying for you guys. So sorry for your loss.
October 28, 2020 @ 10:58 am
Sending my prayers to the family. This was such a surprise to Carol and I.
October 28, 2020 @ 5:06 pm
John and Gay, so very sorry to hear of your loss.
October 28, 2020 @ 1:15 pm
John and Gay: So sorry for your loss. Will be praying for your family.
October 28, 2020 @ 1:53 pm
Deepest sympathy to you all during this time.
October 29, 2020 @ 9:06 am
We are so sorry for your loss. Chris was always such a nice person. We enjoyed interacting with him at the fair each summer when our children and his were younger. Our hearts go out to all of you as well as his parents. Prayers for your family. Eddie and Vickie Lawrence
October 29, 2020 @ 11:34 am
I’m so sorry about Chris.
I remember him from Junction HILL days. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.
October 29, 2020 @ 11:43 am
I am so sorry for your loss, Debby. My heart breaks for you and your family. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers. Bobbie Wood
October 29, 2020 @ 4:21 pm
Debby, I am so sorry for your loss. My heart breaks for you and your children as well as his other family members. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. Sending hugs and love.
Renee Stephens
October 29, 2020 @ 4:42 pm
Sorry for loss of Chris. Remember him from school activities years ago, he was in class with our oldest son. Noble and Donna Newberry.
October 29, 2020 @ 6:36 pm
Debbie and family I am so sorry for your loss. You all will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Stacey Richey
October 29, 2020 @ 6:59 pm
So sorry for your loss, continued prayers for you and the family!!
October 29, 2020 @ 7:05 pm
My love to you All! I am dreadfully sorry for your loss! Although the spring that we were planning to meet will never come, you Chris, my brother, will be in my heart forever! Rest easy in heaven!
October 29, 2020 @ 8:33 pm
So sorry for your loss
October 29, 2020 @ 8:57 pm
Debby & family,
Tony and I are so sorry for your loss. Chris will be greatly missed for many years to come. You are in our thoughts.
Stephanie Pierce
October 29, 2020 @ 9:44 pm
Debbie and family, I cannot begin to express with words the sadness and the heart felt hurt ? that I know you are going thru as I have been thru an experience very much like this myself. John and Gaye I can’t begin to understand what it would be like to loose a son so young. No one can imagine the pain I am sure you are feeling at this great loss and the hole in your heart that has opened up during this time. Please know that our families prayers are with you and we ask God to extend his mercy to ease your pain and give your heart peace during a very dark time in your lives. God is a God of Hope and his Word tells us let not your heart be troubled but lifted up because of who God is and what Jesus accomplished on the cross for us that we may again one day be together with our Christian family and friends in heaven. So while this is a very sad time it is also a time to rejoice that Christopher is at the feet of Jesus In no more pain or suffering that this world offered him. But rejoicing with the angels and praising God In the highest. God had his Mansion ready and called him home.
October 29, 2020 @ 9:45 pm
So sorry Debbie, keeping you, the children & all of Chris’s family in our prayers. May God be with you all in the days, weeks & months ahead.
October 29, 2020 @ 10:19 pm
My condolences to all the members of the family for the loss of Chris. I had just got the chance to meet him online when he contacted me through ancestry.com. I wish I would have got the chance to meet Chris in person and regret that i was unable to attend his sons wedding in September. I am happy that I was able to fill in some blanks for him about his birth mothers side of the family. God bless everyone. My prayers are with you all.
October 30, 2020 @ 5:46 am
So very heartbroken to hear about Chris. Still so hard to believe. Many prayers going up for his family.
October 30, 2020 @ 5:48 am
So very heartbroken to hear about Chris. He was a great person. Many prayers going up for his family.
October 30, 2020 @ 9:52 am
Thoughts and prayers to the whole family
October 30, 2020 @ 10:08 am
Such a sweet guy with a beautiful and little ornery smile ?
Prayers and love to Debby and his precious
Children.
October 30, 2020 @ 10:30 am
My heart goes out to Debbie & the family. I haven’t seen Chris in years but saw many post & pictures on Facebook when your kids played sports. He grew up with my two kids and we attended the same church. Such a loss so early. My prayers are with you all as you say good bye to a wonderful man.
October 30, 2020 @ 2:07 pm
Debby, I’m so sorry for your loss. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers ♥ Avon Sullivan
October 30, 2020 @ 2:15 pm
I only knew Chris thru our Railroad Union association. But I do remember how proud he was of his family and his basketball playing sons. R.I.P.
October 30, 2020 @ 2:18 pm
Debby, my deepest sympathy to you, the kids and all the family.
October 31, 2020 @ 9:52 am
Sorry for your loss. Prayers for you and your family. Sorry I can’t make it today. I will miss him announcing the ball games.
October 31, 2020 @ 2:18 pm
I am so so sorry to hear of your great loss! Way to young and so much to live for. I wish you and your family peace and pray for you all.
November 1, 2020 @ 1:52 pm
I am one of the “new-found” distant relatives. My mother, Rosemary Shine Sands, her parents, William Shine (deceased), and Edna Shine (deceased) from Maryland. Her brothers “Johnny” John Shine (deceased), and Eddie Shine.
My Father, Walter McBlane Sands, Jr. His father Walter McBlane Sands (deceased). My fathers mother, Katherine Sands (deceased) from Maryland. My sisters, Denise Dodson, Karen Meabrod, Susan Sands. My nephew, Bill Meabrod was contacted by Chris Skaggs, during this past year. They had both used the “23andMe” website. Chris reached out to Bill to let him know their was “a connection” between the two of them- via 23andMe! I know Bill gave Chris all the family names and info, for my mothers side of the family. It is such a miraculous thing…that we all, now know- we are related! I am so thankful, that thru the wonder of science- Chris was able to connect to some of his “new-found” extended family!
It is a blessing, that his Mom and Dad came to adopt him at 3 months old! It sounds like it was meant to be. My only regret is that, I never personally, connected to Chris. An affirmation, that “Life is short”. “Don’t put off till tomorrow- what you can do, or say, today”. My heart-felt sorrow regarding the circumstances of Chris’ passing, and the shock it has to have been- to all of you. His family. Please know that myself, and my family, send our deepest sympathy, and prayers to your family, Debby. Sincerely, Megan Sands Somers.
November 2, 2020 @ 10:44 am
To Uncle John & Aunt Gaye and the entire family,
So sorry for your loss but Heaven’s gain.
Chris was such a sweet and cute kid that grew to be a wonderful man.
May God hold you in His loving arms during this time.
Cherish his memories.
You’re in my thoughts and prayers.
Kathy “Katie” (Bray) Beaty