PATSY LOUISE SKEEN

Patsy Louise Skeen, 76, passed away on June 3, 2023 in Atlantic Beach, Florida, after a lengthy battle with cancer. Patsy was born October 14, 1946 in Norton, Virginia and grew up in Big Stone Gap. She will be remembered for her lifelong love of learning and teaching, inspired by the achievements of her parents, James Rucker Skeen and Georgia Lee Bevins Skeen, both educators in Wise County.

Patsy graduated from Powell Valley High School in 1964. She was awarded the C. Bascom Slemp Foundation Scholarship. Patsy earned a Bachelor of Science Degree with honors from Radford College and a Master’s Degree from the University of Tennessee. In 1976, she received a Doctorate Degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Georgia, where she was a professor for 30 years. Patsy was named Outstanding Teacher in the UGA College of Family and Consumer Sciences three times. She was Head of the Department of Child and Family Development at Georgia and served on various University Governance Committees. She was given the prestigious title of Professor Emerita upon her retirement to Gulf Shores, Alabama, in 1999.

An internationally known lecturer and author, Patsy co-authored four books, including the textbook, Child Development and Relationships, which has been used in classes at more than 150 colleges and universities nationwide. This book was translated into Russian and sold out within months of its first printing. Her book, Woodworking for Young Children, became popular with the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

Patsy published more than 80 papers concerning children and families in American professional journals, including Psychology Today, and publications in Russia and Poland. She was a member of a team of behavioral scientists from the U.S., Russia, Poland and the Georgian Republic, who conducted a major cross-cultural study of young families in those countries. Additionally, Patsy did research on parent-child relationships in Brazil, the Philippines and the U.S. She served as an editorial consultant and research editor for the publication, Dimensions. Patsy was also a child development specialist for the Georgia court system and the Georgia Extension Service as well as an adviser for school systems, day care centers and Head Start programs across the state. In recent years, Patsy continued to mentor young professionals.

Patsy was preceded in death by her parents and her beloved springer spaniel, Teddy.

She is survived by her sister, Kim Skeen and brother-in-law Wallace (Chip) Glisson of Jacksonville, Florida, her best friend, Linda Morris and her husband Charlie of Auburn, Alabama and numerous Bevins and Skeen family cousins.

The family received friends on Saturday, June 24, 2023 from 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. at Holding Funeral Home, 17 East 3rd Street North, Big Stone Gap, VA 24219. Immediately after visitation, there was a 2:00 p.m. funeral service in Holdings Chapel. Steve Powers officiated. The funeral service was followed by a public graveside service in the Skeen Family Cemetery, adjacent to the American Legion Cemetery located at 4999 Powell Valley Road, Big Stone Gap.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent in Patsy’s honor to The Humane Society of the United States, 1255 23rd Street, NW, Suite 450, Washington, DC 20037 or your local animal shelter.

An online register is available for the family at www.holdingfuneralhome.com

Holding Funeral home is honored to be serving the family of Patsy Skeen