"The Gazette Xtra", Janesville, Wisconsin, Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009.
Mary Elizabeth (Bond) Skaggs, 98, of Milton, died peacefully on December 19, 2009 of natural causes at Milton Senior Living in Milton. She was born August 3, 1911 to the late Charles Austin & Maud Virginia (Hefner) Bond on Canoe Run, near Roanoke, West Virginia. She was the fifth of eight children - Beatrice Mora, Walter Clarence, John Stanley, Luther Harold, Mary Elizabeth, Richard William, Charles Hefner, and Robert Levi, each of whom preceded her in death.
She lived on her grandfather's farm near Roanoke until she was eight when the family moved to Salem, WV, so the older children could attend high school. Mary was baptized by Pastor George B. Shaw and became a member of the Salem Seventh Day Baptist Church when she was twelve. After high school, she entered Salem College, majoring in Physical Education, and graduated in 1934. In 1935 she became a Physical Education teacher at Bridgeport High School, Bridgeport, WV, and taught there until the end of the spring semester in 1942. Mary's younger brother, Charles, married Margaret Skaggs, and, subsequently, Mary became acquainted with Margaret's older brother, Leland Skaggs, then living in New York City where he taught Mathematics at CCNY. Because of the uncertainties resulting from the beginning of World War II, Leland and Mary decided to marry during Easter weekend. They were married on April 6, 1942, the Monday after Easter, with Leland's father, Rev. James L. Skaggs p!
erforming the ceremony, Charles Bond as best man, and Margaret Skaggs Bond attending Mary.
After the war, most of which was spent in Asbury Park, NJ, where Leland served in the Army teaching classes in radio for the Signal Corps, Leland was persuaded to return to Milton, WI, and to Milton College, his alma mater, as a math teacher, and, eventually, as Registrar. In 1956 Mary was employed by the college to teach women's physical education. Later, she also served as Dean of Women. The family's life - there were now two sons - centered around activities at the college and the Milton Seventh Day Baptist Church. Mary organized and hosted social events for students and faculty, receptions, open houses, church Turkey Suppers, and was never happier than when she was doing so. With her sister-in-law, she took a class in cake decorating, and thereafter baked and decorated cakes for wedding receptions, anniversaries, and other celebrations.
Mary retired from teaching in 1973. She and Leland continued to live in a house across from the Milton College campus until the end of 2002 when they moved to Milton Senior Living. Leland died there on Christmas morning, 2003.
Mary is survived by her two sons, James Austin Skaggs, of Madison, WI, and Samuel Bond Skaggs, of Milwaukee, WI, and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, December 23, 2009, at the Milton Seventh Day Baptist Church, 720 E. Madison Ave., with Rev George Calhoun officiating. Burial will take place in the Milton Cemetery. Friends may call on Wednesday afternoon from 1 until 2 p.m. at the church. Memorials in her name may be made to the Milton College Preservation Society. The Whitcomb-Lynch-Albrecht Funeral Home is assisting her family with arrangements.

"The Gazette Xtra", Janesville, Wisconsin, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2003.
Prof. J. Leland Skaggs, died peacefully early Christmas morning at his home in the Milton Senior Living retirement home. Leland Skaggs was born in Shiloh, NJ on February 27, 1912, the son of Rev. James L. and Hettie Skaggs. Rev. Skaggs was a Seventh Day Baptist pastor, and the family moved several times before moving to Milton, WI, while Leland was in high school. He attended and graduated from Milton Union High School and then went on to study at Milton College. J. Leland Skaggs graduated from Milton College in 1933. He also attended Columbia University. During the Depression he taught in New York City at CCNY and for the WPA. He served in the Army during World War II, teaching radio for the Signal Corps on Steel Pier at Asbury Park, NJ. After the war he became a mathematics professor at Milton College, Milton, WI. Apart from the Korean War period, when he was recalled to duty with the Army, serving as a Lieutenant and commanding a basic training company at Camp!
Gordon, GA, he continued to work at Milton College until retirement. He taught math, served as registrar for many years, and was appointed interim acting president. Leland was an active member and deacon of the Milton Seventh Day Baptist Church. He married Mary Elizabeth Bond in Salem, WV in 1942. He is survived by his wife, Mary; his 2 sons, James A. of Madison, and Samuel B. of Milwaukee; 2 sisters, Margaret Bond of Shiloh, NJ, Evalyn Camenga of Daytona Beach, FL; and a brother, Rev. Victor Skaggs of Longmont, CO.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, December 29, at Seventh Day Baptist Church, Milton. Pastor George Calhoun will officiate. Burial will be in Milton Cemetery. Friends may call on Monday from 12 pm until time of service at the church. Albrecht Funeral Home is assisting the family.