CLAUDIA LUCILLE SKIMIN

 NOVEMBER 6, 1926 - MARCH 30, 2024

While we now celebrate her nearly 100 years of life, it is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of our wonderful mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Claudia, at the age of 97.

Claudia leaves an amazing legacy. Those that will cherish her memory most are her son, Michael Scott Collins (Barbara), and daughters Suzanne A. Thomas (Zach) and Vicki L Cockroft (Gary). She was forever “Meemaw” to her beloved grandchildren Erin Cockroft, Caitlyn Thomas, Casey Thomas (Erica), Chanse Thomas (Cheryl), and Carson Thomas (Natali), as well as to her nine beautiful great-grandchildren.

She was born and raised in El Paso and, remarkably, was an El Pasoan for nearly a full century. After her graduation from Austin High School, she married very young and travelled the world for a time. But she always came home to those very same spectacular Franklin Mountains where she and neighborhood friends often played when she was a child in the 1920s and 1930s.

She dedicated herself to a 28-year career at the University of Texas at El Paso until her retirement in 1990. At UTEP, she served as assistant and friend to renowned author and historian C.L. Sonnichsen. She also worked with four consecutive Deans of the College of Science where she was adored by colleagues and students alike.

In her leisure time, she was a truly formidable opponent to her many bridge-loving friends. She also solved crossword puzzles daily for decades, and also sat reading a mystery thriller or exciting spy novel, right up to her final weeks.

Claudia had an unwavering love of all animals, especially her beloved Bassett Hound Belle and her cat Lucky Lou. In lieu of flowers the family requests any donations be made in Meem’s honor to the Animal Rescue League of El Paso.

A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at the San Jose Funeral Home, 10950 Pellicano Drive, El Paso. We will gather and share memories and stories starting at 10:00 am with a service to follow at 11:00.

Additionally, the family is grateful to Hospice of El Paso for their exceptionally kind, warm, and professional support.