THELMA P. "SKIPPY" LAIRD, age 90, a resident of Bertrand, died at 9:00 p.m. Friday, October 1, 2010 at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

She was born February 11, 1920 in Bertrand to the late James Peyton and Sudie Ann Blackburn Lane. She left Bertrand in 1955 and moved to Long Beach, CA. Returning to Mississippi County, she moved to Charleston in 1968 where she was employed with the Brown Shoe Company until her retirement. In 2001 she moved to Floral City, FL to live with her son and daughter in law and then in 2008 she moved back to Bertrand.

Surviving are one son and daughter in law, Andy and Debbie Hartje of Floral City, FL; three grandchildren, Sarah Wren of Inverness, FL, Andrew "Rocky" Hartje of Floral City, FL, and Antoinette Gallagher of Olathe, KS; also two great grandchildren, Cierra Gallagher of Olathe, KS, and Mia Bland of Inverness, FL.

She was preceded in death by five brothers, Norman Lane, Arthur Lane, Milton Lane, Thelbert Lane, and Carl Lane; and three sisters, Mildred Williams, Louise Swank, and Ella Forbey.

Visitation will held on Wednesday, October 6, 2010, at the McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston from 11:00 a.m. until the funeral hour at 2:00 p.m.

Interment will follow in the Oak Grove Cemetery under the direction of McMikle Funeral Home.