Timothy John Skulley passed away June 3 at home in Doyleville, Colorado from a very rare form of cancer. He was born in Watertown, South Dakota on May 2, 1953, to Floyd James Skulley and Naomi Eileen Sorteberg. He had two brothers, Jim and Joe and a sister, Laura.
After getting his GED, Tim went to culinary school and trained under a French chef, specializing in soups and sauces. During this time, he became a sous chef.
In 1979, Tim moved away from his family and friends in Minnesota and came to Crested Butte to work at the Grub Steak restaurant on Elk Ave. Tim then moved to Gunnison and began working at the Quarter Circle restaurant. Over the next 20 years, Tim worked at various restaurants in the Gunnison valley including W Café whenever they needed him. Tim ended his culinary career this winter after working at the Palisades Restaurant for approximately seven years.
Tim married Colleen Warren on Sept. 22, 1990, and they were blessed with one child, a daughter they named Meagan. Tim was a kind, caring, gentle, genuine and quiet man who loved riding motorcycles with his friends. He had a particular passion for Harley Davidson motorcycles and enjoyed restoring and customizing his motorcycle. He also loved hunting, fishing, trapping for the local ranchers and spending his time logging in the Taylor Park area and selling firewood.
He was preceded in death by his parents, both brothers and his granddaughter, Lowen. He is survived by his beloved wife, Colleen, daughter Meagan, whom he cherished dearly, her husband, Tyler and his two grandsons, Payson and Briggs. Tim loved his grandsons dearly and loved to hear his eldest grandson call him “papa.” He is also survived by his sister, Laura (Bob) Schmidt of Minnesota, as well as many nieces and nephews and their children.
Per his wishes, his ashes will be scattered near one of his favorite fishing holes. Family and close friends will be personally notified of the date, time and location at a later time. Tim will be greatly missed by all who knew him and equally missed for the delicious food he so lovingly prepared.
A very special and heartfelt thank you goes out to Dr. Jay McMurren, Josie and the staff at Gunnison Family Physicians, as well as Melissa and the other wonderful ladies at Hospice who took such very good care of him.
