Rachel Willie Campbell Skelton

Rachel Willie Campbell Skelton passed away Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, surrounded in love by her children.

Rachel was born in Centralia, Ill., and she married “her soldier” Wayne Braden Skelton on July 4, 1942. Their love story began when Wayne was stationed at Scott Field. He and a group of friends decided to go into town to Gene’s Malt Shop. Rachel just happened to take his order. Maybe this is why she loved chocolate shakes. During the 53 years together, they set up their home in Blytheville and had three children: Larry, Brenda, and Kathy. They loved to fish for crappie at Kentucky Lake with their family and friends. They also enjoyed taking family trips to Florida and took multiple trips to Las Vegas.

A woman of many talents, “Mamaw” loved to cook! Everyone was welcome for Sunday dinners. She made the best meat leaf, pot roast, fried crappie and greasy hamburgers. Her most famous Christmas cookies were loved by all! She was an excellent seamstress making Halloween costumes, bridesmaid’s dresses, and more quilts than one can imagine. She could craft anything from dolls to real candy houses. There was never a crossword puzzle she couldn’t solve. She had the best sense of humor and would argue with anyone (especially Terry) just for fun. She loved telling stories about events in her life, and truly never met a stranger. More than anything, she loved taking care of her family.

Rachel was preceded in death by her parents, Otis L. Campbell and Cassie Jane Julia Ann (Powell) Campbell; siblings, Harold Dean Campbell, Otis M. “Jr.” Campbell, Lester Campbell and Marie Flanagan; her husband, Wayne Braden Skelton; great-grandson, Jimmy Ritchie; and daughter, Brenda Kaye Kotalik.

Rachel is survived by her children, Larry Wayne “Bobe” Skelton of Springdale and Kathy Sue (Terry) Beavers of Springdale; son-in-law, Tommy Kotalik of Nashville, Tenn.; grandchildren Ron (Tracy) Skelton of Athens, Ga., Foy (Gaby) Skelton of Jonesboro, Angie (Eric) Ritchie of Guyton, Ga., Sean (Christi) Kotalik of Blytheville, Wendy (Scott) Peters of Springdale, Justin (Kristen) Beavers of Fayetteville, Leslie (Justin) Henry of Cave Springs and Braden (Vidi) Skelton of Dallas, Texas; 17 great- grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and extended family and friends.

Graveside services will be held Friday, Dec. 11, at 10:30 a.m. in Elmwood Cemetery. There will be a private family visitation. Following the State of Arkansas COVID-19 guidelines, no more than 50 people will be allowed to gather inside of Cobb Funeral Home and practice social distancing, keeping a 6-foot distance between one another. Face masks are required to enter the building and to be worn at all times. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.cobbfuneralhome.com.