Lynn W. Skinner was born March 29, 1946, in Pima, Arizona to Wilford Clyde Skinner and Chloe Lines. He was the youngest of five siblings; Gerald, Jean, Anne, and Francis Del. He was a graduate of Pima High School and was active in athletics.
Following high school, he served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Great Lakes Mission. He married Joyce Cluff in the Mesa Temple on Sept. 5, 1968. They have seven children; two boys and five girls. He graduated from Loyola School of Dentistry in Chicago, Illinois, then returned to the Gila Valley, where he practiced dentistry for more than 40 years.
Lynn served in various church callings, including stake and ward young men’s president, high councilor, and bishop. He also served in the community as mayor of Pima, town councilman, school board member, Graham County Supervisor, and a longtime member of the Safford Rotary Club.
He had a passion for horses, ranching, farming, and family. He loved horseback rides with children, then grandchildren, family trips to Mt. Graham, and round-ups with the cowboys at the ranch. His love of horses carried over to Lynn and Joyce’s mission in Nauvoo, where he served as a teamster. Another highlight for both of them has been serving in the Mesa Temple and The Gila Valley Arizona Temple.
Lynn was preceded in death by his father, mother; brother, Francis Del; sister, Anne Butler, and four grandsons. He is survived by Joyce, his wife of 52 years; his brother, Gerald; sister Jean; children, Gwen and Nate Smith, Shelly and Tom Claridge, Del and Galina Skinner, Stacie and Richard Cluff, Sky Regard, Leisel and Dee Wilkins, and Seth and Courtney Skinner; 38 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends Sunday afternoon, Dec. 13, from 3 until 5 p.m. at Vining Funeral Home and Monday morning from 10 until 10:45 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Pima Highway Chapel. Services will begin at 11 a.m. Concluding services will be at the Graham Cemetery.
