Fay Skelton

Maudie “Fay” Skelton, 80 years of age, passed away on October 16,2023. Fay was born on March 3, 1943, in Dallas Texas to William and Birtie Criswell. Fay grew up in the Dallas area and graduated from Crozier Technical high school. She was active in pep squad, drill team and numerous clubs. As a young girl, her weekends were spent at her grandparents’ farm riding horses and visiting with family. Soon after graduating high school Fay went to work at First National Bank and began a 50+ year career in banking. Fay married William “Billy” Cox, her high school sweetheart, and in December 1962 and they were blessed to have a son, William Preston Cox and the family settled in Irving, TX. Fay continued her career working for many fortune 500 companies such as First National Bank, Interfirst Bank, Texas Commerce, and retired from J.P. Morgan Chase. She was a favorite of all her customers and coworkers. During that time, many banks participated in huge downtown parades such as the Thanksgiving Day parade. Fay was a regular on the bank sponsored parade floats and loved waving to the excited crowds. She always had a big smile and mastered the parade wave technique. Now single with Preston, Fay remained very close to the family. Each week she made a point to take her lunchbreak with her Mother and if time allowed, a game of dominoes at the house she grew up. Fay always remained active in the local Church of Christ and loved to sing. As she worked to provide for Preston and herself, she still volunteered at area homeless shelters, food bank kitchens, and Meals on Wheels. She continued to volunteer and serve others after her retirement. While working at Interfirst Bank, Fay met Tommie Skelton of Plano. They married and lived in Irving TX but moved and settled in Desoto TX. in 1984. Fay and Tommie were married 53 years until Tommie’s death in 2021. After retirement, Fay loved to host holiday and birthday celebrations at her home and started a Christmas caroling tradition where everyone had to sing. Songbooks were printed, and the family always gave into her request for Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. It was always fun to see her show the family her latest moves she learned in her Zumba class. Fay continued to volunteer to help those in need in and around the Desoto area and she was a frequent visitor of the Desoto YMCA. Above all, Fay loved her Lord and her family. Her home was filled with multiple generations of family pictures and keepsakes. Fay would often take a keepsake out of her display and share with a young family member and tell a story about who this item belonged to and how special that person was in her life and the family. Fay is survived by her son Preston Cox, brother in-law Bobby Skelton, daughter Rene Louis and son-in-law Francois Louis, grandchildren Billie Cox, Isabella Louis and Madeleine Louis and a host of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents William Paul and Birtie Criswell, sister Wanda Barrows, husband Tommie Skelton and William Cox, brother in-law Bob Barrows, eldest daughter Teresa Beard and sister-in-law Judy Skelton. The family will receive friends at West/Hurtt Funeral Home on Monday, October 23, 2023 from 10 - 11:30 A.M. Graveside Services will also be held on Monday, October 23, 2023 at 2:00 P.M. in the Sparkman - Hillcrest Cemetery, 7405 W. Northwest Hwy., Dallas, TX 75225.