NATCHEZ — Dorothy Marie Curtis Skates, 82, died Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2010, at Baptist Hospital in Jackson, due to complications of colon cancer. Her husband of 63 years, Herman B. Skates, was by her side.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Laird Funeral Home Union Street Chapel with the Rev. Dick Root officiating.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today and from 9:30 a.m. until service time Saturday, both at the funeral home.

Mrs. Skates was born Jan. 27, 1927, in Utica, the daughter of Alston Lamar Curtis and Florence Davis Curtis.

In her younger days she enjoyed playing basketball at Utica High School and with Armstrong Tire and Rubber in Natchez. After World War II, she met Herman Bankston Skates and they were married in 1946. Their first jobs in Natchez were at Armstrong Tire and Rubber Company. She was a homemaker for a number of years. After the fourth and last child started first grade, she began working at Adams County Health Department where after 25 years, she retired as head clerk.

They faithfully attended the Fourth Street Church of Christ and later the Covington Road Church of Christ.

She was a financially savvy person and enjoyed discussing stocks and politics. She and Herman raised cattle on their land in the Pine Ridge/Airport areas of Adams County for a number of years.

She graduated from Utica High School and Draughon’s Business School. She always encouraged her children, grandchildren and other young lives along the way to get a good education and college degree. And for this, many have thanked her for that mentoring and encouragement.

Mrs. Skates was the ultimate mother and grandmother. Her family was most important. She enjoyed watching football on Sunday afternoons. Her delicious home cooked meals will be missed greatly.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and three brothers.

Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Peggy Marie June and husband, Jimmy, of Lake Concordia and Charlotte Dorene Ward and husband, Terry, of Terry; two sons, Ray Herman Skates and wife, Laurie, of Vidalia and Barry Lester Skates and wife, Nona, of Brookhaven; 13 grandchildren, Charles Jordan Jr., Keith Jordan, Doug Jordan, Tonya Galbreath, Jered, Adam and Russell Skates, Casey Owens, Emily Wallace, Alan Skates, Leslie Butler, Audrea Gay Hood and Samantha Petty; 16 great-grandchildren; five sisters; and two brothers.

She was considered as the rock of the family.

Pallbearers will be grandsons.

Online condolences may be sent to www.lairdfh.com.