Sally Birdsong Skaggs

Sally Birdsong Skaggs died March 6, 2026, at age 91. She was born November 4, 1934, to Dr. W.F. and May Pearl Birdsong in Fort Worth, Texas. Sally grew up in Amherst, Texas where her father, an Army physician, had relocated the family following World War II. She was a tall, red-headed and outgoing basketball player at Amherst High School where she met her future husband, Robert Holt. After enduring a two-year long distance relationship Sally left SMU to marry Robert who was a junior at Texas Tech. They lived in Lubbock until he graduated and entered the Army. By this time, they had their first child, Sally Anne. Robert was stationed in Frankfort, Germany, and Sally and Sally Anne joined him there. After his discharge the family moved to Tulia where Robert began his career in accounting. Two more children, Nancy and John, followed and in 1961 the family moved to Amarillo, where Sally lived the rest of her life.

In the 1960s Sally was asked to be a fashion model for several stores in Amarillo because of her beauty and grace. She modeled for Colbert’s, The Store, and Sakowitz, among others. Along with raising her children and modeling, Sally became involved in volunteer work particularly as an arts supporter, notably as a founding member of the Amarillo Art Center, now the Amarillo Museum of Art. She served on the board of the Amarillo Children’s Cottage and was a member of the Junior League. Sally loved the Amarillo Symphony where she served on the board for years, as well as serving as President of the Symphony Guild. Sally was a long-term supporter of the Amarillo Little Theater, Center City and served as a founder of the Golden Nail Awards. Sally loved everything about Amarillo and made many wonderful lifelong friends.

In 1976, Sally married R.R. (Dick) Ingerton. Feeling her life was not busy enough, Sally returned to college in the 1980s, earning a degree in Psychology from West Texas A&M. Her family was very proud of her accomplishments. She and Dick had a wonderful marriage until his death in 2001. She then married John R. Skaggs in 2003, and they also had lots of fun, traveling and doing community volunteer work together. John died in 2020. Sally spent the last years of her life at Park Central facilities. Her family wishes to thank the administrators and staff of those facilities for the excellent care she received.

Sally was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Ann Fowler, a brother, George Birdsong, and her husbands, R.R. Ingerton and J.R. Skaggs. She is survived by her sister, Susan Landers and husband Nick; her children, Sally Emerson and husband Don, Nancy Gormley, and Dr. John Holt and wife Ann; two nieces, four stepchildren, two grandsons, Rex Emerson and wife Liz, and Robert Emerson and wife Dr. Sasha Still; and three great grandchildren, Birdie, Gracie and Bear Emerson.

Sally’s life will forever be remembered as one centered on faith, family, and friends.

A memorial service is currently being scheduled for the near future. Details will be published soon. 

If wishing to honor her, please consider a memorial to St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church or Amarillo S.P.C.A.