Vanette Skillin, professional ballroom dancer, manager, mom, and adoring wife passed away peacefully on March 1, 2015 at 82 years of age.
Vanette was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas on September 1, 1932 to Hazel Linam Retherford and Evander Monroe Retherford. During World War II, Vanette lived and went to school in the war relocation centers at Rohwer and Jerome, Arkansas where her mother was a school teacher. Vanette graduated from Central High School in Washington D.C. and began a career at the department of Health, Education and Welfare. As a professional ballroom dancer, she competed, taught and performed at many functions in the Washington D.C. area. In 1961 she married Cecil Skillin from Kenduskeag, Maine and soon began to raise two sons in Fairfax, Virginia. In the mid-1970s they moved to Florida. There Vanette worked hard to raise the boys, enjoyed new friends, and was active in the North Naples United Methodist Church. Vanette took great pride in watching their boys both graduate college, start their families and careers. Leaving Florida, Vanette and Cecil enjoyed the RV life often traveling between Laughlin, Nevada and Valdez, Alaska. Many new life-long friends were made who also traveled the roads.
Vanette and Cecil settled down in Hoschton, Georgia near family in 2006. Vanette is survived by her husband of 53 years , Cecil Skillin, sisters Diane Baker, Jan Retherford Sullivan, and Ann Retherford, sons Bruce Skillin and Scott Skillin, and daughter in-law Marcy Ward Skillin. Vanette's biggest smiles were seen after the mere mention of grandchildren Kimberly Skillin Tinney, Kristen Skillin, Sabrina Skillin, Sam Skillin, great grandchildren Harbin Tinney, Catherine Tinney, Lydia Tinney, Ella Tinney, Penelope Tinney, and Wesley Linen.
No service will be held at Vanette's request. Vanette will be laid to rest in with family in Magnet Cove, Arkansas. Remembrances can be left on Vanette's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/vanette.skillin.9. Arrangements by Lawson Funeral Home, 4532 Hwy
53, Hoschton, GA, 30548, www.lawsonfuneralhome.org, 706-654-0966.
