Obituary of Billie Jean Skillman

Billie Jean (Cuzick) Skillman, 78, died Saturday, April 23, 2011 of natural causes at her daughter’s home in Dupont. She was a lifetime resident of Shelton. She was born April 30, 1932 in Washington County, Ark. to Willy Jefferson Cuzick and Bertha (Glidewell) Cuzick. She graduated from Shelton High School. She married Thomas L. Skillman Jr. They were married 45 years. She was previously married to Charles Barnes in 1951 until his death in 1961. She was a homemaker, home health caregiver, bartender, waitress and worked at a Christmas tree lot. She grew up on the Hood Canal near Potlatch and enjoyed spending time near the water in the sunshine. As a young woman she would drag race her 1943 Ford convertible and rode motorcycles. She was believed to be the first woman in Shelton to ride a Harley Davidson and being so tiny she would bring the bike to a stop and ask someone to steady the bike so she could get off. She bowled on a league at the Timber Bowl for many years, enjoyed horse races with her sister Marie and playing Bingo. She enjoyed traveling to Reno with her husband and family, to Florence, Oregon to visit her sister Roberta and to California to visit her daughter and grandchildren. She camped with her children during the summer where she grew up on Hood Canal and also enjoyed camping and fishing in Neah Bay. Later in life, she adored her Yorkshire Terriers PJ and Sarah. Family time was important to her and she was very proud of all her children, their husbands, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She and her husband shared many fun memories at the casino in Shelton and a highlight was when they were asked to do a television commercial and radio spot. They made a lot of new friends from the time they spent there. She is survived by her daughters Sharon Settle of Union, Karen Visser (Kieth) of Union, Tanya Graham (Tony) of Roseville, Calif. and Tiffney Olsen (Alan) of Dupont; sister Roberta (Cuzick) Bechtold of Florence, Ore.; brothers Willy J. Cuzick, Jr., of Shelton and Donald R. Cuzick of Shelton; Step-Mother Eva Cuzick of Shelton; eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Her parents Bertha and Willy Cuzick, husbands Charles Barnes and Thomas L. Skillman, Jr., sister Marie James, brothers Carl Wayne Cuzick and William L. Cuzick, Sr. and grandson Jesse Charles Visser, preceded her in death. Memorial donations can be made to Franciscan Hospice and Palliative Care, 2901 Bridgeport Way West, University Place, WA 98466. Arrangements are under the direction of Edwards Memorial, University Place