Dana Skelton

To watch the LIVESTREAM, click the link below: https://player.memoryshare.com/video/dana-skelton-terrell-tx Dana William Skelton was born July 6,1949 in Clarksdale, Mississippi. He passed away December 7, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. Preceding him in death were his parents Billy Skelton and wife Jane, Marion Skelton, and brother Bob Waller. Left to cherish his memory is his loving wife of nearly 54 years, Sherry Skelton of Terrell, Texas; daughter Laura O’Donnell and husband John of Frederick, Maryland; son Will Skelton and wife Corrinne of Highland Village, Texas; grandchildren Juliana, William and Elizabeth Foster, Claire and Jack Skelton, and step-grandchildren Joshua and Faith O’Donnell; sibling: Deborah Skelton of Jackson, Mississippi, as well as many other beloved family members, friends, coworkers, and former students. After graduating from The University of Southern Mississippi, Dana married the love of his life, Sherry Edwards, in 1971. He served as a band director for eleven years at Forrest County Agricultural School and Jackson Preparatory School all while keeping up his trumpet chops by performing with the Jackson Symphony Orchestra, various ballet, opera, and Broadway Musical companies, and as a freelance musician playing live concerts featuring national touring artists such as Elvis Presley and James Brown. It was during these years that Dana and Sherry had their two children: Laura in 1977, and Will in 1979. Dana earned his Masters in Music Education at Mississippi College and became the high school band director of the Fighting Tiger Band in Terrell, Texas in 1982. Together with his colleagues, Dana established a culture of hard work and personal responsibility by stressing qualities of outstanding leadership and the commitment to achieving shared goals. The band went on to win its first UIL Superior and Sweepstakes rating in the ensuing years. In 2000, Dana was named Terrell Independent School District Fine Arts and District Projects Director and worked alongside Claycomb Architects to design the Performing Arts Center. He was pleased to serve as the school liaison for the Terrell ISD Excellence Foundation. As a civic-minded man, Dana organized and worked in partnership with many volunteers to establish the E! Terrell Entertainment Series, bringing musical performances to the students and community of Terrell, Texas. Most importantly, Dana was a dedicated family man. It was important to him that his family spend quality time together. He organized family vacations that were both fun and educational. He loved taking his wife, children and later grandchildren to Disney World, Branson, Civil War Battlefields and Pigeon Forge. In his later years, he and Sherry (both being history buffs) took many more trips touring historical sites, visiting the homes of famous authors, and their favorite - a long-awaited trip to New England to see the fall foliage. He was a proud father and grandfather and delighted in seeing them all use their God given talents. Dana loved taking his family to musicals at Fair Park, to Braums to celebrate special occasions, and was always ready for a game of chess. As a steadfast member of First Christian Church of Terrell for 36 years, Dana served as a deacon and elder. He valued his church family and was a faithful man of God. Dana knew he was headed for heaven and even said repeatedly during his last days on earth, “I’ll see you on the other side!” A celebration of his life and legacy will be at 1:00pm, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025 at First Christian Church in Terrell. His family will receive friends 4:00pm to 7:00pm, Thursday, Dec. 11, at Max Slayton Funeral Chapel. In lieu of flowers, Mr. Skelton's family asks that memorials in his honor be made to: E!Terrell at www.eterrell.org or to the Terrell ISD Excellence Foundation at https://www.terrellexcellencefoundation.org/in-honor-memory

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Dana Skelton

December 7, 2025