Gordon Ray Skinner

Gordon Ray Skinner of Danville, Illinois, passed away unexpectedly on January 16, 2025, at the age of 76.

Gordon was born on March 12, 1948, to Irene (Middlemas) and Jack Thomas Skinner in Danville, Illinois. After graduating from high school in Danville, Gordon attended Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and graduated with a degree in political science.

Gordon met Mary Laker in April 1968 at a family wedding, and they married in December of that year. They had two children, Jack Christopher Skinner and Sarah Lenore Skinner. For most of their fifty-five years of marriage, Mary and Gordon lived in Danville.

After working for the Illinois Department of Revenue, Gordon and Mary moved back to Danville where he apprenticed as a pipefitter. Gordon ultimately took a job with the City of Urbana as a plumbing inspector and, later, as manager of the Building Safety Division. He worked for the city for more than two decades and was beloved by his colleagues. 

Gordon was a passionate sports fan. He was among the earliest fantasy sports aficionados, participating in the same rotisserie baseball league for nearly forty years, many of those partnering with his son, Jack. He watched his beloved Cardinals win many baseball games and was fortunate enough to be in St. Louis to see the Cardinals clinch the World Series in 2006 and 2011. He rarely missed University of Illinois basketball or football games, and most recently was captivated, along with the rest of the world, by the ascendance of Caitlyn Clark and the Indiana Fever. Gordon was also a passionate pet parent to his schnauzers, Yogi and Cali, and Siamese cats, Fiona and Jax. 

Gordon was predeceased by his parents and his wife. Gordon is survived by many loving family members and friends including his brothers, Ken (Mimi) Skinner and Jim (Julie) Skinner; his daughter Sarah and his son, Jack, and his wife, Jaime (Myers) Skinner; as well as his four grandchildren: Sebastian Skinner, Lorenzo Skinner, Ollie Skinner, and Dylan Myers Price; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

The family requests casual dress for the memorial.

We will celebrate Gordon’s life on Friday, January 24, 2025, from 5-7 pm at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Danville, Illinois, 3940 N Vermilion St. Danville, Illinois 61834. Private Family burial will be in Sunset Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to Citizens for Animal Rescue and Adoption (C.A.R.A.) in Tilton, IL. 

Please join Gordon’s family in sharing memories, photos and videos on his tribute wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com .