Gary Ellwood Skaggs Sr.
Feb 17, 1938 -
Jul 28, 2026
Gary Ellwood Skaggs Sr., 88, of Yuma, Ariz., passed away on July 28, 2026. He was born on Feb. 17, 1938, in Benton County, Ark. He is survived by his sons, Gary Patrick (Skaggs) II and Gary E. Skaggs III; daughter, Angela Meyer Patrick (Skaggs); stepson, Clint McCool; stepdaughter, Vicky McCool; 10 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and his very special lady friend, Joy Primiano.
Gary lived a full and varied life as a school bus driver, craftsman, factory worker, salesman, U.S. Air Force veteran, self-taught welder and fabricator, machinist, professional race car driver, commercial truck driver, heavy equipment operator, gold miner and karaoke DJ — and a great teller of stories, mostly true and always entertaining.
He married the love of his life, Judy, in Arkansas in 1965. In 1969, the family moved to Fairbanks, Alaska, later settling in Anchorage, where Gary became a champion race car driver throughout Alaska and the Yukon Territory before turning his passion to gold mining and, later, to building a heavy equipment rental and construction business with Judy and his son, Gary E. Skaggs III, which grew into Denali Excavation and Pumping Service. Gary also served as a shop foreman for U.S. Army civil service at Fort Richardson, retiring in 1998. He and Judy retired to Yuma, in 2005, where Gary became a beloved local karaoke DJ.
Gary was a devoted husband and proud father who made countless friends throughout his life.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Judy; stepdaughter, Becky Haines (McCool); stepgrandsons, Colton and Brandon Haines; and a very special lady friend, Karen Hitchins.
A celebration of life will be held at the Yuma Foothills Clubhouse, in Yuma, on Nov. 15, 2026, at 5 p.m. A second celebration will be held in Anchorage, in summer 2027, when the family brings Gary home to his final resting place. Details will be shared at a later date. Parties interested in additional information can visit Gary's memorial website at https://www.online-tribute.com/GaryESkaggsSr.
