Obituary for Amelia Skelley Irlbeck
Amelia Skelley Irlbeck, 81,of Canyon, passed away on March 21, 2020, in Lubbock, Texas. She was born to the late George and Catherine Skelley on August 19, 1938, in Clayton, New Mexico. She was raised on the Skelley Ranch in Cimmaron County, Oklahoma. Amelia graduated from Boise City High School and attended Panhandle State University at Goodwell, Oklahoma, and West Texas State College in Canyon, Texas. She married the late James “Jim” Irlbeck in 1959 in Amarillo, Texas. They resided in the Jowell Community southwest of Canyon where they made many lifelong friends before moving to Canyon.
Amelia passed a love of volunteering, servant leadership, and being active in her community and church on to her family. Amelia was a member of First United Methodist Church of Canyon for 60 years where she was a member of the Irene Elder Church Circle, the Pathfinders Sunday School Class, and served on a number of committees through the years. Amelia was also a member of the University Study Club, Pleasantview Home Demonstration Club, Jowell 4-H Leader, and Randall County Home Extension Club. She was named Randall County Conservation Farmer of the year in 2007. She loved her grandchildren and was an active participant in helping raise them; her recipes and memories of spending time cooking with her are cherished by her family.
Left to mourn her passing and celebrate her life are son James Irlbeck and wife Cindy of Canyon, daughter Janie of Amarillo, son Jay of Canyon, and daughter Jennifer of Lubbock; sister Helen Baker of Guymon, Oklahoma, and brother George Skelley of Six Mile, South Carolina; grandchildren Jeremy Thompson, Christin Rea, Lauren Giese, Malari Casas, Hope Irlbeck, and Katie McCollum; 4 great grandchildren; and a host of loving friends and family. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her sisters Nell Chockley and Elaine “Kay” Prather.
A celebration of Amelia’s life will be held at a future date.
In lieu of flowers, the family would ask for memorials to a favorite charity. The family wishes to extend special thanks to the memory care team at Raider Ranch and Area Community Hospice in Lubbock for loving Amelia and her family and taking excellent care of her during her last years. Amelia will be greatly missed.
Amelia passed a love of volunteering, servant leadership, and being active in her community and church on to her family. Amelia was a member of First United Methodist Church of Canyon for 60 years where she was a member of the Irene Elder Church Circle, the Pathfinders Sunday School Class, and served on a number of committees through the years. Amelia was also a member of the University Study Club, Pleasantview Home Demonstration Club, Jowell 4-H Leader, and Randall County Home Extension Club. She was named Randall County Conservation Farmer of the year in 2007. She loved her grandchildren and was an active participant in helping raise them; her recipes and memories of spending time cooking with her are cherished by her family.
Left to mourn her passing and celebrate her life are son James Irlbeck and wife Cindy of Canyon, daughter Janie of Amarillo, son Jay of Canyon, and daughter Jennifer of Lubbock; sister Helen Baker of Guymon, Oklahoma, and brother George Skelley of Six Mile, South Carolina; grandchildren Jeremy Thompson, Christin Rea, Lauren Giese, Malari Casas, Hope Irlbeck, and Katie McCollum; 4 great grandchildren; and a host of loving friends and family. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her sisters Nell Chockley and Elaine “Kay” Prather.
A celebration of Amelia’s life will be held at a future date.
In lieu of flowers, the family would ask for memorials to a favorite charity. The family wishes to extend special thanks to the memory care team at Raider Ranch and Area Community Hospice in Lubbock for loving Amelia and her family and taking excellent care of her during her last years. Amelia will be greatly missed.