Teddy was born in the tropical summer of Honolulu, Hawaii, and she

passed away in Salem during a white Christmas--her favorite

time of year! Tedro Wood Croley Skillern was born July 31, 1933, to

Charles William and Clarissa Decker Croley.

 

The Croley family lived in Hawaii, Vancouver, B.C., and finally Portland,

where Teddy was a gifted student/musician and graduated from Grant High

School in 1951. She attended the University of Oregon (Pi Beta Phi) where

she earned her degree in Speech Pathology and, more importantly,

met the love of her life, Sam Skillern Jr., at the Fiji House. They were

married July 9, 1955, at St. Michael's Church in Portland, and then drove

cross-country for Sam's deployment in the U.S. Army at Fort Eustis, Virginia.

 

The couple lived in Seattle and Spokane before settling in Salem in 1960 and

buying their beloved Fairmount Hill home in 1961. Teddy was a spectacular

mom to her three children while serving in many civic capacities, including St. Paul's

Church, Helping Hands, and the Salem Art Association, serving as co-chair of the

Salem Art Fair. During this time, Teddy pursued two of her life passions to become

a local tennis ace and a world-class artist.

 

Teddy studied Calligraphy under the legendary Lloyd Reynolds and became an

accomplished artist and teacher in her own rite. She was a founding member of

the Capital Calligraphers Guild and her works are displayed in public buildings

and treasured by private collectors. On the leisure side, Teddy and Sam were

familiar fixtures at Salem Tennis & Swim Club and the prestigous Limnugger

Tournament at Salishan each summer. Teddy was truly a Renaissance woman--

devoted to husband and kids, while expanding her own gifts and sharing them with others.

 

While adoring her visits to places like Rome, Mexico City and Paris, Teddy favored

the Oregon Coast and the Wallowa Mountains, where Sam's family had a

riverside cabin. She was an avid reader, historian, crossword-puzzler and

devoted fan of Mozart, Beethoven, Bach and all classical music. She will be

remembered as an ardent advocate for children, education and especially the arts.

 

Teddy is survived by Sam, her husband of 53 years; her brother Stephen G. Croley

(Jane) of Sunriver; Sam III (Jennifer) of Salem; Chuck (Christy) of San Diego;

and Sarah (Bruce) Peterson of Wilsonville: along with the grandkid apples of her

eye: Samuel, Andrew and Gabriella. A fond Aloha from all!

 

Teddy's memorial service will be held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church

on Saturday, January 10, at 1:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers the family requests

donations to the Salem Leadership Foundation or the St. Paul's Arts and Architecture

Guild. Those attending the service are also invited to bring a can or box of food

for the St. Paul's Food Bank.