Obituary for Clara Belle "Skippy" Maguire
Clara Belle “Skippy” White Maguire passed from this life on December 30, 2021. She was 97 years old.
She was born December 13, 1924 to Fredrick Roy and Clara Anna Anderson in St. Louis, MO. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Mary Louise Smith and daughter-in-law Mary Ann White. She was also preceded in death by three husbands – Avon E. Morgan (1945), David Mark White (1966), and Daniel J. Maguire (2004).
Skippy is survived by her sister Ruth Ratley of St. Ann, MO, son Steven Mark White of Springfield and daughter Cheryl Lynne White (Gil Mahoney) of Los Angeles, CA, stepdaughter Sandra Colleen Weaver (Wayne) of Wheatridge, CO, grandchildren Christopher Mark White (Marla Mathis) of Kansas City, Michael Allan White of Springfield, Kevin Mahoney (Lori) of Austin, TX, Angela Horton (Craig), Sky Natalie Gabel, and Marcia Weaver, all of Colorado. She was a proud grandma to six grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild, and a host of many loving and loved friends. “Aunt Skippy” is also remembered fondly by numerous nieces and nephews.
Skippy was born and reared in St. Louis, MO where she earned her nickname as a teenager because of her tendency to say “oh, just skip it!”. It stuck to her the rest of her life.
In 1949, while serving under the Southern Baptist Home Mission Board, she and a fellow intern were sent to coordinate Vacation Bible School (VBS) for Bois D’Arc Baptist Church in Bois D’Arc, MO, near Springfield. It was there that she met her second husband, David Mark White and they were married soon thereafter and moved to Springfield. Children Steve and Cherie were a product of that union. Her VBS travelling partner, Mary Ruth Skaggs, met and married Mark’s brother, JB White, and became Skippy’s sister-in-law and lifelong friend.
After being a widow for 20 years, in 1987 Skippy met Dan Maguire, who was known locally as Dan the Weatherman on KOLR 10 and began a new chapter in her life. She met him when she signed up for a bus day trip (her first) to George Washington Carver Memorial Park. Separately, Dan had signed up for the same trip, and it was his first, also. This chance meeting led to a relationship and marriage 1988. When Dan heard of her former husbands’ deaths, he said “that foolishness has got to stop!” They had 16 great years together until his death in 2004.
Skippy was an active member of Glenstone Baptist Church and served her Lord in her church and in her everyday life in many ways. At Glenstone, she was a devoted Sunday School teacher for over 30 years. She also served in Outreach, Nursery, and children’s and adult missionary groups.
In addition to being a stay-at-home mom, Skippy held several other jobs over her lifetime, including being a small arms inspector in St. Louis during WWII, an unemployment claims processor and a “lunch lady” in Springfield Public Schools. She worked at the Dolly Madison Bakery Thrift Store for 15 years until her retirement in 1987.
Skippy showed her joy and enthusiasm for life with her constant smile and bouncy step. She was known for her rapid walking pace, which didn’t slow down after she began to use a walker for balance. Many a companion had to run to keep up with her.
She spent her last years at Creekside Elfindale and The Manor at Elfindale where she made many new friends. Skippy continued to enjoy her love of gardening. She carried a small set of clippers in her walker and took it upon herself to deadhead the flowers in their landscaping on her daily walks on the property.
Many thanks are to be given for the tender loving care she was given by the staffs of Creekside and The Manor at Elfindale. In her last days, she had additional caring support from Good Shepherd Hospice.
Remembrances in Skippy’s name may be made to: Memorial Fund in Honor of Skippy Maguire, Glenstone Baptist Church, 413 S. Glenstone, Springfield, MO 65802.
Glenstonebaptist.org/giving
For everyone's safety services will be private for immediate family only.
Permanent online condolences, stories and photos may be shared at www.hhlohmeyer.com.
She was born December 13, 1924 to Fredrick Roy and Clara Anna Anderson in St. Louis, MO. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Mary Louise Smith and daughter-in-law Mary Ann White. She was also preceded in death by three husbands – Avon E. Morgan (1945), David Mark White (1966), and Daniel J. Maguire (2004).
Skippy is survived by her sister Ruth Ratley of St. Ann, MO, son Steven Mark White of Springfield and daughter Cheryl Lynne White (Gil Mahoney) of Los Angeles, CA, stepdaughter Sandra Colleen Weaver (Wayne) of Wheatridge, CO, grandchildren Christopher Mark White (Marla Mathis) of Kansas City, Michael Allan White of Springfield, Kevin Mahoney (Lori) of Austin, TX, Angela Horton (Craig), Sky Natalie Gabel, and Marcia Weaver, all of Colorado. She was a proud grandma to six grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild, and a host of many loving and loved friends. “Aunt Skippy” is also remembered fondly by numerous nieces and nephews.
Skippy was born and reared in St. Louis, MO where she earned her nickname as a teenager because of her tendency to say “oh, just skip it!”. It stuck to her the rest of her life.
In 1949, while serving under the Southern Baptist Home Mission Board, she and a fellow intern were sent to coordinate Vacation Bible School (VBS) for Bois D’Arc Baptist Church in Bois D’Arc, MO, near Springfield. It was there that she met her second husband, David Mark White and they were married soon thereafter and moved to Springfield. Children Steve and Cherie were a product of that union. Her VBS travelling partner, Mary Ruth Skaggs, met and married Mark’s brother, JB White, and became Skippy’s sister-in-law and lifelong friend.
After being a widow for 20 years, in 1987 Skippy met Dan Maguire, who was known locally as Dan the Weatherman on KOLR 10 and began a new chapter in her life. She met him when she signed up for a bus day trip (her first) to George Washington Carver Memorial Park. Separately, Dan had signed up for the same trip, and it was his first, also. This chance meeting led to a relationship and marriage 1988. When Dan heard of her former husbands’ deaths, he said “that foolishness has got to stop!” They had 16 great years together until his death in 2004.
Skippy was an active member of Glenstone Baptist Church and served her Lord in her church and in her everyday life in many ways. At Glenstone, she was a devoted Sunday School teacher for over 30 years. She also served in Outreach, Nursery, and children’s and adult missionary groups.
In addition to being a stay-at-home mom, Skippy held several other jobs over her lifetime, including being a small arms inspector in St. Louis during WWII, an unemployment claims processor and a “lunch lady” in Springfield Public Schools. She worked at the Dolly Madison Bakery Thrift Store for 15 years until her retirement in 1987.
Skippy showed her joy and enthusiasm for life with her constant smile and bouncy step. She was known for her rapid walking pace, which didn’t slow down after she began to use a walker for balance. Many a companion had to run to keep up with her.
She spent her last years at Creekside Elfindale and The Manor at Elfindale where she made many new friends. Skippy continued to enjoy her love of gardening. She carried a small set of clippers in her walker and took it upon herself to deadhead the flowers in their landscaping on her daily walks on the property.
Many thanks are to be given for the tender loving care she was given by the staffs of Creekside and The Manor at Elfindale. In her last days, she had additional caring support from Good Shepherd Hospice.
Remembrances in Skippy’s name may be made to: Memorial Fund in Honor of Skippy Maguire, Glenstone Baptist Church, 413 S. Glenstone, Springfield, MO 65802.
Glenstonebaptist.org/giving
For everyone's safety services will be private for immediate family only.
Permanent online condolences, stories and photos may be shared at www.hhlohmeyer.com.