Nancy Parsons Skidmore, was born on January 10, 1925, at her home, Rockbridge Inn in Natural Bridge, VA, the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. George W. Parsons.

She departed this life on December 15, 2011, for her home in heaven with her daughter, Marylou.

Nancy graduated from Natural Bridge High, where she was a star athlete and admitted to not being a star student. She was baptized in High Bridge Presbyterian Church. After two years of study at James Madison University, she taught school in the County of Rockbridge for two years and then moved to Hancock, Maryland, where she taught first grade for eight years and then taught at the Hancock High School for four years, Physical education and was coach of the girls' sports.

She was married in 1947, and her husband was called by God to the ministry. The couple moved to Hampton Sydney, VA, in 1960, with their two children, Alex and Marylou. She taught in Prince Edward County for four years and then moved to Richmond for three years while her husband attended Union Theological Seminary. She taught in Chesterfield County for three years, and then the family moved to Blackstone, Virginia, where her husband pastored for six years and she taught in the Elementary School.

In 1972 came the call from St. Giles Presbyterian Church where Nancy taught the Child's Catechism for seventeen years, having begun that teaching in the Blackstone Church for four years. Hundreds of children sat under that teaching and are now serving in churches all over the country. While all of this church ministry was happening, she also taught at A. M. Davis High School and received a Master of Education Degree at Virginia Commonwealth University and taught a class there for two years to prepare prospective teachers how to teach and maintain discipline. She was elected to the Board of Deacons in 1984 and she and her husband returned to Natural Bridge in 1990.

She was instrumental in placing her home on the National Registrar of Historic Places, as well as, Virginia Manor farm at Natural Bridge Station. She was a member of the Rockbridge Historical Society and was on the Board of the Ruth Anderson McCulloch Chapter of the Association for Preservation of Virginia Antiquities. She also served on the Mental Health Board of the County and was an active member of the Natural Bridge Fire Department Auxiliary. She was also a member of the Civil War Round Table, AARP, DAR, and UDC. She also served as a deacon in the High Bridge Presbyterian Church and was a lifetime member of the Women of the Church. Nancy was a good golfer. She shot an 89 on the Old Course at Saint Andrews, Scotland. Her extended family and guest have met for a Family Reunion Golf Tournament for thirty six consecutive years, and Nancy entertained with a meal and the sharing of Virginia Family Traditions. She was always one of the better finishes in the golf and was the winner twice. She will be missed by all in the coming years.

She is survived by her husband of sixty-four years, the Rev. Dr. Louis A. Skidmore; her son, Louis Alexander Skidmore, IV, and his wife, Sara Elizabeth Fleming; and two grandsons, L.C. Alexander Skidmore and Charles Hampton Skidmore, of Richmond, VA; and a son-in-law, C. Mark Wilson, of Fort Defiance. Also, two nieces, Mary Locke Parsons and her husband, Ronald Black, and their children, Adam Black, Aaron Black, Rebecca Black Mehnker, and Anne Parsons Talkington; and one nephew, George Russell Parsons and his wife, Christina, and their children; sister-in-law, Mildred Parsons; and Mr. and Mrs. James Parsons of Rapps Mill are cousins and they have two children, John and Ruth.

She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. George W. Parsons; a daughter, Marylou Skidmore Wilson, and two brothers, George Parsons, Jr., and Richard Parsons, all originally from Natural Bridge.

A funeral service will held 11 a.m. Monday, December 19, 2011, at High Bridge Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Jason Grimes officiating. A private family burial will take place at High Bridge Presbyterian Cemetery. Family will receive friends 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, December 18, 2011, at Harrison Funeral Home in Lexington, VA. Memorial contributions may be made to the High Bridge Presbyterian Church. Arrangements by Harrison Funeral Home & Crematory, Lexington, VA.