Rae Annette Skaggs

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held honoring and remembering the life of Rae Annette (Birdsell) Skaggs on Monday, May 21, 2018 at 10 AM at St. John ‘s Catholic Church, Bartlesville, Oklahoma with Father Joe Townsend officiating the service. Annette was born April 12, 1926 in Nowata, Oklahoma. She was the daughter of Raymond F. Birdsell and Agnes M. (Merrell) Birdsell.

Annette was a 1943 graduate from Nowata High School.

On June 22, 1947, she married the love of her life, Joseph Otto Skaggs in Nowata, OK. Joe and Annette met at a furniture store while she was buying her parents an anniversary gift. They spent 52 loving years together.

Annette worked at H.C. Price Co. and Phillips Petroleum Co. as an executive secretary until she retired in 1985.

Baking was one of Annette’s talents. She would often take cookies to her doctors’ appointments for the staff. She also enjoyed crocheting, going to the movies and playing bridge. Christmas was her favorite holiday, and she always made it extra special. She spent many hours volunteering at the Concern Center in Bartlesville. Annette and Joe loved to dance, go on walks together and travel. She had an outgoing personality and a kind loving soul. She will be greatly missed.

Annette was a longtime member at St. John Catholic Church. She also was involved in Saint Martha's Altar Society, Jane Phillips Sorority and the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.

She is preceded in death by husband, Joseph Otto Skaggs; parents, Agnes M. (Merrell) Birdsell and Raymond F. Birdsell; granddaughter, Robyn Tiffie and two brothers, Richard Birdsell and Jim Birdsell.

Survivors include two daughters, Mary Schmid and her husband, Robert, and Denise Abrams and her husband, Jerry; four sons, Bill Skaggs and his wife, Janet; Ray Skaggs and his wife, Anita; Bob Skaggs and his wife, Kay, and Jim Skaggs; grandchildren, Kelly Gospodarek, Drew Skaggs, Charles Skaggs, Jon Skaggs, Marie Orr, Jason Schmid, Joseph Abrams, Jacob Abrams, Rebekah Abrams, Emily Odom, Will Skaggs and Jay Skaggs and twelve great-grandchildren. She also leaves two sisters, Gwen Naquin and Marilyn Smith and many more family and friends.

Viewing will be Sunday, May 20, 2018 from 4 PM to 5 PM at St. John Catholic Church. A Rosary will follow the viewing starting at 5 PM. Interment will follow the mass at Memorial Park Cemetery, Bartlesville, Oklahoma.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Annette to the Porta Caeli House, 2440 N. Harvard Ave, Tulsa, OK 74115 (portacaeli.org) or to Robyn's Way Scholarship Fund, OKC Community Foundation, P.O. Box 1146, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73101 (occf.org).

Arrangements are entrusted to Schaudt's Tulsa Funeral Service. Family and friends may send memories and condolences to the family online at www.schaudtfuneralservice.com.