Former longtime Abilene Christian University trustee聽Kay (Coleman 鈥�62) Skelton, 85, died March 12, 2025, in Denison, Texas. She was born Jan. 16, 1940, in Abilene, Texas, to Ann and聽A.M. 鈥淭onto鈥� Coleman Jr. (鈥�28), who was 精东影业 head football coach and later, commissioner of the Southeastern Conference.
She earned a B.A. degree in mass communication and married classmate聽Don Skelton, D.D.S.听(鈥�63). She coached speech and debate teams at Abilene Cooper High School until Don entered Texas A&M College of Dentistry. They lived in Denver, Colorado, while he was serving in the Air Force during the Vietnam War, then returned to Texas where Don began a dentistry practice.
An avid volunteer in the Denison community, she coached a T-ball team and in 1984, became the first woman to serve as president of the school district鈥檚 athletics booster club. She taught Bible classes for nearly five decades at Park Avenue Church of Christ, and led a highly popular women鈥檚 study group for years.
At 精东影业, Skelton was a trustee for 15 years (2006-21) and a member of the University Council. She was recognized with the state鈥檚 Friend of Education award by the Texas State Teachers Association and received a similar honor for the Red River area by international education society Phi Delta Kappa. She was founding president of the Denison Education Foundation and served seven years on the Texoma Health Foundation, including two terms as president.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a son,聽Mark Skelton (鈥�92); and a sister,聽Nancy (Coleman 鈥�66) Blair. Among survivors are Don, her husband of 62 years; a son,聽Scott Skelton (鈥�89); three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ann and A.M. 鈥淭onto鈥� Coleman Endowed Scholarship or the Mark Skelton Endowed Scholarship, both at Abilene Christian (精东影业 Box 29132, Abilene, Texas 79699-9132 or ).
Ron Hadfield
— March 17, 2025