Wilsie A. Skipworth

Wilsie was born in Electra, Texas on October 9, 1930 to her parents, Leonard Pressley Sr., and Elsie Wilson Ashton.  As a child the family moved around a lot as her father worked at various farms in the Panhandle picking cotton.  

Wilsie married Luther Steger in 1950 and cherished her role as wife and mother.  She took care of the home while Luther finished his education at Tech. The family lived briefly in Wichita Falls before moving to the Gulf Coast of Mississippi.   It was there that Wilsie discovered she had an eye for antiques and a talent for crafting and began her own business. She was a craftsman and enjoyed creating things for family, friends, and others.  In Pass Christian, she owned “Grandma’s Attic,” an antique and unique gift shop.  She also compiled the “Cactus Cooks” cookbooks and enjoyed hosting parties featuring recipes in her cookbook.  As a result of Hurricane Camille in 1969, the family was forced to rebuild and moved to Austin, safely away from the threat of Hurricanes, where Wilsie continued buying and selling antiques and creating unique gifts and craft items. 

After the death of Luther in 1988, Wilsie reconnected with a childhood friend and married Edwin Skipworth in 1990.  The couple moved back to Amarillo to be closer to family.   They were members of Polk Street United Methodist Church.  Together, they were very involved with the church and many other community functions and spent over nineteen years together before his death in 2009.

Wilsie, being brought up during the Dust Bowl, learned the importance of perseverance and hard work, something she carried throughout her life.  She was a loving and caring wife mother and a successful entrepreneur and was always happiest when surrounded by her family and friends. May we take comfort in the memories we shared with Wilsie and find solace in knowing that her spirit will forever remain in our hearts. She leaves a legacy of kindness and love that will continue to inspire us all. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Luther in 1988; her husband Edwin in 2009; two brothers, Archie and Presley Ashton; and three sons, Jerry Don Ashton, David Steger, and Kevan Steger.
 
She is survived by her daughter, Donna Steger Wortel of Portland, OR; her son Kent Steger of Amarillo; a granddaughter, Danyce Steger; and a great-grandson, Preston Tomlin.