Burwell – Harold “Skeeter” Leroy Mayberry Jr., 72, of Burwell, Nebraska died from complications due to diabetes at Community Memorial Health Center on May 21, 2015.
He was born June 3, 1942 in Burwell to Harold (Hoss) and Clara (Lowery) Mayberry. After graduating from Burwell High School, he moved to Seattle, Washington where he worked for Boeing. In 1966 he joined the U.S. Navy and was stationed at Miramar Naval Base in San Diego, California. He served three tours on two different ships in the Philippines, the USS Bonhomme Richard and the USS Hancock. He was a mechanic for the F8 Crusader fighter jets on both ships. After he was honorably discharged in 1970, he moved to the Bitterroot Valley in Montana. Skeeter worked as a mechanic, carpenter and welder throughout his life. Skeeter enjoyed fishing, woodworking, quilting, family and friends. He never knew a stranger anywhere he ventured. He always had a twinkle in his eye, a great story to tell, or a made up song to sing.
On October 3, 1996 he married Margie Ann Svoboda and moved back to Burwell.
Survivors include wife Margie Ann (Svoboda) Mayberry of Burwell; daughter Tracy (David) Reiner and granddaughter Tressa Reiner of Burwell; sisters Marilyn (Jim) Svoboda and Mary Ann (Ken) Hirlinger, all of Ord, Nebraska; cousins Vern (Dorothy) Francis, Ron (Linda) Francis and Daryl (Jan) Francis, all of Washington; stepdaughter Kelly Scalf and step grandchildren Kristen Scalf, Kylie Nadeau and Zachary (Sally) Nadeau, all of Illinois; stepchildren Teresa (Parks) Mix and Tami (Parks) Berry and multiple step grandchildren and step great grandchildren, all of Montana.
Skeeter was preceded in death by his parents Hoss and Clara Mayberry, his first wife Kathy (Woolsey) Mayberry, his second wife Garnet Merlene (Parks) Mayberry, stepson Tony Parks, and lifelong friend and brother in arms David Isaac Terrell of Brook, Indiana.
A visitation for friends and family was held on Tuesday, May 26th, 2015 at the United Methodist Church in Burwell. Private memorial graveside services with military honors will be held at the Cottonwood Cemetery in Burwell. Memorials are suggested to the Community Memorial Health Center in Burwell.