O.T.'s Cabin

OT Skipper was born in a covered wagon in 1921 in Oklahoma Territory. He grew up in Jack County, Texas, where his grandfather who was in law enforcement was involved in the search for the notorious bank robbers, Bonnie & Clyde. OT was the oldest of 7 children and had to drop out of school in the 6th grade in order to go to work so he could help with the family bills.
Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, OT enlisted in the Navy and served in the South Pacific as a gunner’s mate. He told his granddaughter, Emily, many stories of his time in the service. OT married Helen Morris in Fort Worth and they raised 3 children, Joe, Pat and Mike. He was in the grocery store business for over 40 years and a beloved manager of 5 stores including Safeway, Buddies, Worth Food Mart, and Piggly Wiggly. OT was not content to retire, so he took on a “retirement” position as a Pumper for Akers and Fultz Oil Company in Graham. He and his wife lived in Wise and Jack Counties before her death. He moved into this cabin on Wildcatter Ranch in 2005.
OT was always available for a conversation or consultation on the best way to “fix” just about anything. His summer garden produced enough tomatoes for the whole family and most of their friends and you could find him driving around the ranch in his orange Wildcatter Kabota most pretty days.
Sadly, OT died in July of 2007, leaving a void in his family and within the ranch community. We remember his quiet ways and solid character with love and respect.
Having lost my father when I was only 31, I was blessed with a father-in-law who treated me like his own. We hope you will enjoy spending time in his cabin. He was very happy here.
Anne Skipper, “Miss Anne”

In the WWII Navy photo below, O.T. is the second from the left.