Lawrence Skiffington Obituary

Lawrence Scott Skiffington passed from this life on August 24, 2017 after a courageous six-year battle with pancreatic cancer. He was at home, in Manitou Springs, surrounded by loving family members.

Larry was born on April 15, 1953 in Denver, Colorado to Emma Lou and George Skiffington. The family moved to Colorado Springs in 1957. He graduated from Cheyenne Mountain High School in 1971. Larry was an avid hockey and baseball player, proudly wearing jersey #15 for the Indians. He excelled at trumpet, sports and academics earning him acceptance to the University of Denver. After two years at DU Larry transferred to the University of Colorado where he graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. He married Lucy Jenkins in 1975, they later divorced. Larry received his Doctor of Jurisprudence from the J. Ruben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University in 1979. Over the next twelve years he practiced energy and environmental law working for Senior and Senior; Pruitt, Gushee, Fletcher; and Vancott Bagley in Salt Lake City, Utah. He shared his expertise with peers as a speaker at the 28th Annual Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Institute. In 1992 Larry returned to Colorado Springs to join the City Attorney's Office where he provided legal support to Memorial Hospital and Colorado Springs Utilities. In 1994 he returned to private practice. He met his wife, Susan Presti, through mutual friends and they were married in 1995. The two enjoyed 22 years of partnership and love.

Larry gained strength being outdoors. He camped and hiked extensively in the Utah and Colorado mountains and was a long time member of the Colorado Mountain Club. His commitment to the environment included serving as a volunteer for the Sierra Club for many years. His passion for American politics led him to campaign for Governor Dick Lamm during his first and second runs for the governor's office and he worked on a number of state and local candidates' campaigns throughout the years. Larry shared his time and talents with the community helping establish the CIVA Charter School, participating on committees with the Denver and El Paso County Bar Associations, serving on a Pikes Peak Behavioral Health Group (now AspenPointe) board, as an officer of the El Paso County Democratic Party, and coaching youth hockey for Colorado Springs Amateur Hockey Association and Tiger's Hockey for many years. He was an active member of the El Paso County Medical Society's Ethics Committee.

Larry leaves behind his wife, Susan Presti, parents Emma Lou and George Skiffington, sisters Sarah Skiffington and Sue Skiffington-Blumberg (Al), brother in-law Blair Presti (Katrina), nephews Jacob Blumberg (Christina)and Matthew Presti, niece Beth Blumberg and Maia Presti, and dozens of dearly valued friends. He is preceded in death by his nephew, Taylor Skiffington, and grandparents, Frieda and Lawrence T. Skiffington, and Aimee and Russell Samuel. His quirky sense of humor, goofy antics and kind heart will be deeply missed by those who knew him.

A celebration of life will be held September 8, 2017 at First Lutheran Church, 1515 N Cascade Ave, Colorado Springs, CO. Services will begin at 2:00 PM. The family would like to thank Dr. Paul Anderson, Dr. Timothy Murphy, Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN and the Sarah Cannon Cancer Center in Denver for the compassionate care and support over the past 6 years.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Larry's name to the Colorado Mountain Club or the Tiger's Youth Hockey Scholarship Committee, P.O. Box 1263, Colorado Springs, CO 80901.