Elaine Skiles

Elaine Velma (Hurtt) Skiles, 104, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020, at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. Elaine was born Feb. 13, 1916, on the family farm in Wilsonville, Neb., to parents Maude and Victor Hurtt. She was the youngest of four girls: Alta, Eva, Frances, and Elaine. She attended a one-room school called South Rockton grade school, where she said the teachers were the janitors, started the fire in a pot belly stove, taught all the different classes, and sometimes would bring soup to put on top of the stove, "but not often." Usually, Elaine and her sister, Frances, walked to school, but if it was snowing her father would take them in a wagon drawn by horses. She met her future husband, Orville Skiles, at Sunday School, which was held at the Devizes School house. After a three-year courtship, Orville and Elaine were married Sept. 16, 1936, at the Christian parsonage in Norton, Kan. After the ceremony, they changed clothes and headed for California for their honeymoon and to visit Orvilles folks, who had previously moved to California. Orville and Elaine worked on his parents fruit farm, hoping to earn money to come back to Nebraska. Orville came down with pneumonia just before Thanksgiving in 1936. Even though the doctors told Elaine that Orville would not live, he miraculously recovered, which Elaine said was the event that solidified her faith in God and the power of prayer. Elaine and Orville were both baptized via immersion at a church in Escalon, Calif. After returning to Nebraska, Orville and Elaine joined the Wilsonville Methodist Church, where they both taught Sunday School. They began farming south of Wilsonville on the Hurtt farm in 1938, following the death of Elaines father. Elaines mother lived with them for the next 10 years, and she helped with the children and the chores. They endured hail, drought, and the "occasional good crop." Orville and Elaine enjoyed 28 years together and had three children, Vicky (Weigel), Gary Skiles, and Doug Skiles. Vicky was born shortly after the death of Elaines father and Elaine said she was a "wonderful blessing as they had to focus on her and it helped fill the void after just losing my dad." Gary was born in 1943, and 12 years later, "a surprise came along, Douglas Wayne on Nov. 24, 1954. But it was a great one as we all enjoyed him so much and had built in babysitters." Orville died Sept. 13, 1964, from heart complications and Elaine became a widow at age 48. Elaine stayed on the farm "until the corn crop was out" and then moved with Douglas to McCook. Elaine took a job at the Safeway grocery store in McCook, and later as a cook for McCook Public Schools, retiring after 20 years. Her roots were on the Wilsonville farm, which she continued to own and rent out. Elaine enjoyed traveling with family and friends which she did extensively. Her last trip was in 2016, when at the age of 100 she went to Portland, Ore., to visit family. Elaine loved people, and would take every opportunity to attend sporting events, dance and piano recitals, and performances of her grandchildren, as well as those of her neighbors and friends children. She was an excellent, although humble, cook and was known for her outstanding pies, which according to Elaine, were never very good. Elaine was a faithful member of United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, PEO, Eastern Star, and TTT. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, sisters, and many cherished family members and dear friends. Survivors include daughter, Vicky (Otto) Weigel of McCook, and sons, Gary (Marti) Skiles of Redmond, Ore., and Doug (Shary) Skiles of McCook; eight grandchildren: Mike (Valerie) Weigel; Pat Weigel, Shawn (Buffy) Weigel; Julie (Randy) Dunn; Monte Skiles, Marc (Lori) Skiles; Megan (Justin) Skiles-Fleming; and Ben (Megan) Skiles; and 11 great-grandchildren, and one great-great granddaughter; numerous extended family members, her Hillcrest friends and caregivers, her United Methodist Church family, and a host of other friends who loved her positive attitude and un-ending smile. Memorials are suggested to Memorial United Methodist Church in McCook. Private family services are planned for Friday, Dec. 18 at 2 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in McCook, with burial to follow at the Wilsonville cemetery. Arrangements have been entrusted with Herrmann-Jones Funeral Home in McCook, Neb. Online condolences may be left at herrmannfh.com.