Lyman M. Skeen

Lyman M. Skeen, 85, longtime Warden resident, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 18, 2008, at Kadlec Medical Center in Richland. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, April 23 at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Warden with President Lance Leavitt presiding and Bobie L. Whitaker, officiating. Arrangements are in care of Kayser's Chapel and Crematory, Moses Lake. Please leave a note or sign the guestbook at www.kayserschapel.com.

Lyman was born on Aug.10, 1922, in Ogden, Utah, son of the late J. Blaine and Irene Skeen. A World War II veteran, he married Lorna Surrage on Sept. 18, 1946. They moved to Washington in 1955 where Lyman worked for the Bureau of Reclamation as a heavy equipment operator. He worked on building many of the canals in the Columbia Basin that brought irrigation water to the area. After leaving the Bureau, Lyman farmed near Warden for many years and was recognized as Soil Conservation Farmer of the Year twice.

A man of great integrity and ingenuity, Lyman was the quiet supporter and partner with Lorna in two business endeavors: a small general store, L & S Clothing in Warden in the early 1960s and later in Skeen's Western Wear in Moses Lake.

Lyman is survived by his loving wife of nearly 62 years, Lorna; son Phil; daughter and son-in-law Tena and Richard Old; two grandchildren, Hannah and Patrick Old; sisters, Arlene Alvord, Beth Bitton, Beverly Pledger; brothers, Ronald and Garry Skeen.

A loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle - he leaves his family with many wonderful memories that will always hold him close in their hearts.