John Owen Skaggs

John Owen Skaggs, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, was welcomed into the Kingdom of Heaven on January 22, 2025, to be reunited with his cherished wife, Ruby, and son, Gary.  Throughout his life, John remained steadfast in his faith, always honoring the Lord.  Now, he rests in the peace and reward he so deeply sought.

John was born on January 10, 1927, in Blue Jacket, Oklahoma, to Rev. Earl and Clara Skaggs.  His early years were spent on the family farm, but the devastation of the Dust Bowl in the early 1930s forced them to leave their land and home.  The family relocated to the Jerome, Idaho area in the late 1930s, where John often recalled how they "had to look up to see poor" during those challenging times.  These hardships shaped him into the faithful, diligent, and hardworking man who would become an example to all who knew him.

Due to family financial struggles, John left school early and took on a wide range of jobs.  He worked as a farmhand, cowboy, truck driver for Swift & Company, and in construction.  One of his favorite stories to tell was about crashing a truck full of baby chicks and then scrambling to gather them up along the roadside to avoid getting fired.  It was during this time that he met the love of his life, Ruby.  Their relationship had its ups and downs—John, a smoker in those days, was told by Ruby she’d end the relationship unless he quit.  Ruby sent him a letter breaking up with him.  As John walked along a ditch bank reading the letter, a branch knocked his glasses into the water, and with his poor eyesight, he couldn’t finish the letter, never realizing it was a breakup.  He eventually quit smoking, and on November 14, 1947, he and Ruby were married.  They remained devoted to each other for 69 years until Ruby’s passing in 2016.

In the early 1960s, John and Ruby moved to the Reno, NV area, where they co-founded Skaggs Real Estate.  Over the years, John became a highly successful real estate broker, building a career that spanned several decades before transitioning into semi-retirement in the early 1990s.  His family took great pride in his accomplishments, especially considering he left school before high school.  With a sharp intellect, a great sense of humor, and a natural ability to be a friend and partner to all, John’s success was rooted in these qualities, forming the foundation of his business and personal life.

John’s faith was a cornerstone of who he was. He was a longtime member of the Nazarene Church, following his membership in the Evangelical Free Church of Reno and the Church of God.  He devoted much of his time to serving these churches in various leadership roles.  Both John and Ruby were strong believers in tithing regularly to their churches, scholarships, and various charitable causes.  They believed their success in life was directly tied to their faithful and consistent giving.

In his passing, John leaves behind a legacy that his family will strive to honor and follow.  Above all, he was a man of strong faith, remaining steadfast even in the face of tremendous loss and health challenges.  He was also fiercely protective and loyal, always ready to come to our aid, regardless of the situation or cost.  His incredible work ethic and perseverance are qualities we will continue to emulate—he truly was a force of nature.

John was preceded in death by his wife Ruby, son Gary, and his daughter Vicky, who died as an infant.  John was also preceded in death by 7 siblings:  Alonzo, Gladys, Hubert, Opal, Eugene, Eloise, and Faye.

He is survived by his grandsons, Matt (and wife Aimee), Ben (and wife Brittney), and Alex; his great-grandchildren, Karlee, Lizzie, Grace, Gary, and Miles; his sister, Ruth; and his daughter-in-law, Marilyn.

A family graveside service will be held, where he will be laid to rest alongside Ruby and their son, Gary, in Eagle, ID.  A memorial service will take place on February 4th at 2:30 PM at First Church of the Nazarene in Nampa, ID.  

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Gary Skaggs Scholarship Fund at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, ID.  

Donations can be made by mail at the following address:NNU Advancement Office

623 S. University Blvd 

Nampa, ID 83686By phone: (208) 467-8423Online: https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/14304/donations/new