Joe Neal Skinner

         Joe Neal Skinner was born June 27, 1951, in Silsbee, Texas, to Jeanette and Leon Skinner.  He attended several schools in the Houston area before graduation.  He lived briefly in California and Nevada before settling back to his home state of Texas.  He lived in Livingston, Texas until his death on April 11, 2019.

          During his life, Joe held many different jobs.  He found his calling, in the early 1970’s, doing custom automotive painting.  His artistic talents were well-served in this profession, as he created and implemented many of his own designs.  His efforts garnered him his own automotive paint and detail business, which he ran successfully for a number of years.  After retirement, he still dabbled in occasional paint and body work for his cousin’s dealership.

         Joe was, by his mother’s own words, “an old man from just about the time he was born.”  Taciturn and serious, Joe was undoubtedly a quiet observer.  Although he was an introvert, he always made time for family and friends; and could even be persuaded, occasionally, to attend the rather large Stutts family gatherings.

        Favorite memories of his three youngest siblings include: Joe standing in an hour-long line to take us to our first Star Wars movie; Joe taking us to a very scary drive-in movie and being really unhappy about having to leave when we cried because it was too scary; Joe’s love of graphic novels – back when they were still called comic books; Joe being trapped at the 1978 Jet Boat Races and wandering around for 2 days before he could get his truck out of the crowded parking lot.  Joe was 13-16 years older than we three, and he did a fair amount of babysitting when we were very small.   Responsible to help with every task from feeding to potty training, we don’t recall him ever complaining about his unofficial nanny position.  Collectively, and individually, we only remember him as just a really cool big brother.

       Joe is survived by his siblings:  Victor Heddins (and wife Lynne); Curtis Heddins (and wife Kari Sutherland); Donna Miller (and husband Leon); and Molly Johnson (and partner Dan Campbell.)  

        He was preceded in death by his mother, father, and infant brother, Rex Heddins.

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