It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Judith Skinner, who left us on October 7, 2026. Born to Howard and Leona (Shedenhelm) Morehouse on October 15, 1939, in Ottumwa, Iowa, Judith was a pillar of strength, resilience, and unwavering love to her family. She spent her entire life in Ottumwa, creating a warm and welcoming home as a devoted homemaker, and she cleaned homes for many elderly throughout the community. Judith was a woman of faith, finding solace and wisdom in the pages of the Bible. She found joy in nature, particularly in the wild flowers she carefully cultivated in her garden.
Judith was a woman of many talents, which she used to bring joy to those around her and to make her home a place of beauty and creativity. She enjoyed origami, the art of paper folding, and she would freely give them away. Another of her passions was wood carving, a hobby she undertook with precision and patience. She enjoyed teaching her grandchildren how to play songs on the piano. Judith’s love for animals was evident in the way she cared for her pets, treating them as members of her own family. Above all else, Judith cherished her family, her love for them the guiding force in her life.
Judy is survived by her two daughters, Marcia (Phillip) Mathias and Paula (Robert) LaPoint; four grandchildren, Jaydon (Sarah) Mathias, Sarah LaPoint, Jessica (Jake) Pitt, and Chelsea (Kurt) Gee; and seven great-grandchildren, Montanna, Morgan, Levi, Haylee, Rhett, Tripp, and Isley; one brother, Jerry (Joan) Morehouse.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Howard and Leona Morehouse; husband, Robert Skinner, who passed away on December 30, 2025, siblings, Billy Morehouse, Shirley McKim, Betty Cline. As we mourn the loss of Judith, we also celebrate her life and the love she shared with us.
Visitation will be held on Monday, October 12, 2026 from 11:00 am – 1 pm, and a time of sharing will be held at 1:00 pm led by Pastor Mel Kendall. Interment will follow in Chisman Cemetery. Memorials to Walter B. Schafer Post #775 Veterans of Foreign Wars and O.B. Nelson Post #3 American Legion or EveryStep Hospice
We encourage friends and family to visit Judith’s memorial page to share their memories and upload photos of our beloved Judith. Your stories and pictures will help us keep her memory alive in our hearts.
