Emmett Skinner

Emmett W. Skinner, Jr. (age 92) passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 24, 2017 at his home in Chico. Emmett was born in Quantico, Virginia on August 2, 1924 to Emmett Warren Skinner and Ruth Adams. He was born into a Marine Corps family and lived in many places, both in the U.S. and China growing up. Not having a hometown, he regarded Chico as his hometown. Emmett enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1942. He served as an officer during WW II from June 1942 to August 1947 in the U.S., the Pacific, and, after the surrender of Japan, China. Emmett met his wife, Ann Harris Skinner, in Fredericksburg, Virginia in 1938 at the age of 14. He knew at that time that they would eventually marry. They were married March 10, 1947 in the Washington National Cathedral after his return from overseas. They lived a life completely devoted to one another and celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary before her death in 2012. Ann and Emmett came to Chico in 1947 when he began farming. He worked at the Adams Esquon Ranch for 17 years before he started farming on his own. He farmed walnuts, almonds, rice and pecans. He had a pioneering spirit and was willing to depart from convention when he thought there was a better way. Emmett spearheaded the commercial production of the Chandler walnut variety in California and promoted the introduction of pecans to Northern California. In 1978, his sons David and William joined him in his farming operation. In addition to farming, for many years Emmett could be found selling his pecans at the Chico Farmers Market with the able assistance of his sons and grandchildren. Among his many community affiliations, Emmett was a long-time member of Chico Rotary (1969), served on the Board of Directors of both the Western Pecan Growers Association and the California Pecan Growers Association and was a stockholder and director of Durham Pump. He and Ann were generous donors to Enloe Hospital, Chico Boys and Girls Club, the Salvation Army and other community organizations in his adopted home town. Emmett's time spent in China as a youth and later during his military service and during his travels with Ann sparked a lifelong interest in Asian antiquities and art. He was also an accomplished black and white photographer and enjoyed teaching his sons photography. Emmett was preceded in death by his sons William E. Skinner and Gary R. Skinner, his wife Ann, and his sister Jean S. Spencer. He is survived by his son David E. Skinner (Tina), daughters in law, Margaret Growdon (William) and Emily DuBois (Gary), and numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren and nieces. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 5th at 1:00 p.m. at Bidwell Presbyterian Church in Chico and will be followed by a reception at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Boys and Girls Club of Chico, the Salvation Army of Chico or the Chico Rotary Foundation.