Jacqueline Skerritt

Jacqueline #8220;Jackie#8221; Ann Skerritt, 51, of Bozeman, passed away Saturday, April 24, 2010. She was born January 11, 1959 in Bozeman, MT to Donald and Mary Ellen (Kjar) Skerritt. Jackie had dealt with disabilities throughout her life. Jackie started her education at the school for Handicapped Children at the age of 3 learning life skills with physical therapy, learning to walk with crutches. She was one of the 1st disabled children at Whittier Elementary School; she then attended Wilson School, graduated from Bozeman Senior High and Montana State University with a degree in Speech Communication and Business, and later a second degree in Secondary Education. In 1991 Jackie moved to Everett Washington and worked as a teacher#8217;s assistant and tutor in the Mount Lake Terrace School District, then to Enumclaw, Washington, where she worked as a substitute teacher. Jackie moved back to Bozeman in 1998, and worked at Bozeman Senior High School as a substitute teacher. Jackie was a stamp collector, had a great collection of Dolls, loved cats, music, movies and computers. One of her greatest joys was spending time with her good friend and nephew, Wyatt. She endured many surgeries, challenges and painful headaches her entire life. She did not let these things get her down. She was one of the happiest people; she appreciated her gift of life. Jackie had a very strong prayer life, she prayed the rosary daily, and if she missed a day, because of pain and illness, she would double her prayers the following day. Jackie had a different color of rosary for every day of the week. Jackie was preceded in death by her father Don, her stepfather Fred, infant sister Angela, and brother-in-law Michael Baird, Grandparents William Kjar, Ed and Anna Mae Skerritt. Survivors include her mother Mary Ellen Skerritt Pitt; her sister and brother-in-law Jeanette and John Risteau; nephew Wyatt; niece Izabella; grandmother Esther Ferguson and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. A Rosary will be led by the Foresters 5:30 pm, Wednesday, April 28, 2010 at Dahl Funeral Chapel, followed by a vigil service at 6:00 pm. The Funeral Mass will be held 10 am, Thursday, April 29, 2010 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, followed by interment in Sunset Hills Cemetery.