Marilyn Kay (Payne) Skelton

Marilyn Kay Skelton, 54, passed away on April 5 in Lancaster, Calif. following a short illness. Services were held at 4 p.m., April 9 in Mojave, Calif. Cremation had taken place prior to the service and the remains were inurned at Riverside Veterans Cemetery beside her father.

Born Nov. 18, 1950 in Lusk, she was the daughter of C. V. "Bud" and Clarabelle (Berg) Payne. She attended school in Lusk. She moved with her family and resided in Cheyenne and Cody before moving to Sioux City, Iowa.

She graduated from North Central Bible College in Minneapolis. She served as the lead evangelist in the gospel group, God's Family Singers. God's Family Singers was indeed a family group, consisting of Marilyn, her parents, and her sister and her family, and toured the western United States for several years before settling in Mojave, Calif. The group spread the gospel through music and made several recordings.

She married Curt Skelton April 21, 1981. They were the parents of three daughters. She served as principal of a Christian School at Rosamond, Calif. for several years.

Survivors include her mother Clarabelle Payne of Mojave, Calif., husband Curt of Rosamond, Calif., daughters; Sarah Trauffer, Rebecca Skelton and Rachel Bell all involved in missionary work; and sister Connie Brott of Mojave, Calif.

She was preceded in death by her father on July 9, 1999.