Mrs. Alida Bernice “Nookie” (Spurgeon) Skelton, 94, of Hohenwald, TN, passed from this life on Thursday, April 27, 2023, at her home.

Alida was born on October 28, 1928, to Joe Wilson and Mary Doxie (Beatty) Spurgeon in Lewis County. On July 28, 1946, she married the love of her life, Joe Skelton. They were married until his passing in 1998. Alida worked in many different factories, mostly sewing factories, during her lifetime. She was a lover of life and she knew how to live it. In 2023, she was named Person of the Week for the Lewis County Herald. That was definitely something she didn’t see coming but was unbelievably honored to be chosen. She was always up for a trip, and constantly lived life on the go. She was active her entire life up until her health declined in recent months. She was a superb gardener and you could drive by and see her out working in the flower beds every day during the spring and summer. She loved a trip to the Amish and always looked forward to going. She was a dedicated mother to her children. She loved to be with them and always enjoyed having them over for Sunday dinner. She was an amazing cook. She could cook anything and everything. She was welcoming to everyone. You always felt like family at her house. More than anything, she was a wonderful Mawmaw. Her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren all adored her. Alida was a child of God. When she was able, she attended Freedom Holy Temple.

Along with her parents and husband, she is preceded in death by her son, Gary Skelton, grandson, Gary Eugene Skelton, sisters, Ruth Yates, Clara Jones, Johnnie Webber, Lucille Lomax, and Kate Ingram, brothers, Herman Spurgeon, Claude Spurgeon, Clarence Spurgeon, and Joseph Spurgeon, and one son-in-law, Larry Duncan.

She is survived by her daughters, Linda Duncan of Hohenwald, Marline (Jody) Martin of Hohenwald, Mary (Van) Craig of Smyrna, Brenda (Terry) Scott of Hohenwald, and Renee “Rendy” (Gary) Gobbell of Waynesboro, her sons, Larry (Pam) Skelton, and Terry (Denise) Skelton, her grandchildren, Shawn Skelton, Terra Mincey, Tina Runions, Ryan Skelton, Daniel Scott, Brande Davidson, Nathan Grimes, Josh Skelton, Darrin Duncan, Zachary Gobbell, and Matt Phillips. She is also survived by many great and great-great-grandchildren and one special niece, Becky Sue Dabbs.

Graveside services will be held on Friday, April 28, 2023, at 1:00 PM at the Downey Cemetery in Hohenwald with Glen Floyd, Ryan Skelton, and Blake Farr speaking. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 11:00 AM-12:45 PM at the McDonald Funeral Home in Hohenwald.