Margaret "Bonnie" Skerly

Margaret (Bonnie) N. Porter Skerly of Gallatin, TN passed away December 25, 2024, surrounded by her family, in Nashville, TN.

She was born March 16, 1941, in Tolu, KY, to Willard and Martha Hobbs Porter.

She married Joseph John Skerly II, January 23, 1966, in Gary, Indiana. From there they moved to California. Three loving and caring children were born to this union; daughter, Amy Skerly and sons Joseph Skerly III and Michael Skerly. In 1991 they moved to Carterville, Illinois. In 2004, they moved to Springfield, Illinois. In 2023 she moved back to California and in 2024 she moved to Gallatin, Tennessee.

She was preceded in death by her spouse, parents, brother, Jammie Porter and sister Doris Baker. She is survived by her daughter, Amy (and wife Missy); sons, Joseph III, and Michael Skerly (and wife Debbie); two granddaughters, Erin and Karyn Skerly; sister Charlotte Bryan; brothers-in-laws, John Bryan and John Baker; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Margaret (Bonnie) worked for Bugle Boy Industries while in California. She retired from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale where she worked for Morris Library and then retired from the Geography and Environmental Resources Department after 10 years.

The family will host a Celebration of Life at 11:00 am, with a visitation from 10:00am – 11:00am, Saturday, January 25, 2025, at Southtower Community Church, 1350 South Tower Road, Dawson, IL 62520 with Pastor Charlie Carver Jr. officiating. The burial will be at White’s Chapel Cemetery in Rural Marion, KY at a later date.

In memory of Bonnie, she requests any flowers or gifts be withheld and instead a donation in the name of “Sofie, her beloved dog” be made to: The Helping Paw Project. Donations can be mailed to The Helping Paw Project, c/o Carol Rodgers, 2344 South Sixth Street, Springfield, IL 62703. Or, you can email Carol at thehelpingpawproject@gmail.com to discuss donations directly.