Tenth Generation

8680. James McKay Skillman was born on 22 October 1926 in Detroit, Wayne, MI. He was living on 12 September 2001 in Eastport, Antrim, MI. He retired before December 2002. James died on 2 July 2009 at the age of 82 in Eastport, Antrim, MI. He was an attorney-at-law. He had Social Security Number 377-20-3238. Candidate in Republican primary for U.S. Representative from Michigan 17th District in 1952.

James McKay Skillman and Eleanora Marie McRobbie were married in 1954. Eleanora Marie McRobbie, daughter of George S. McRobbie and Mary Hedrick, was born on 26 August 1927 in Detroit, Wayne, MI. She died of cancer on 12 September 2001 at the age of 74 at home in Eastport, MI, near Charlevoix. Paper: Detroit News, The (MI)
Date: September 28, 2001
FARMINGTON HILLS -- Elenora McRobbie Skillman, whose stage name was Merrie Melody on Playschool , one of the first preschool TV shows in the country, died on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2001, of cancer at her home in Eastport, Mich., near Charlevoix.
She was 74.
There were no children on the set. She talked to the children at home through the TV and they listened, making her show a huge success on Channel 4 between 1952-54.
Ann Wiedelman, her daughter, said, "She was a doer -- very active, very involved with people."
The longtime Farmington Hills resident retired to northern Michigan with her husband 10 years ago.
Mrs. Skillman earned her bachelor's degree in music from Wayne State University. She played the organ, taught piano and directed several church choirs.
Mrs. Skillman also was a teacher in Detroit's public schools and often entertained at nursing homes, Boblo Island and at Detroit Lions football games.
Besides her daughter, she is survived by her husband of 47 years, James a son, Rob and six grandchildren.
Funeral services will be private in Troy. Burial will be in Acacia Park Cemetery in Beverly Hills.
Author: The Detroit News, Section: Obituaries, Page: 02D
Copyright (c) The Detroit News. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Gannett Co., Inc. by NewsBank, inc.

Death benefits sent to Eastport, Antrim, Michigan She was buried at Acacia Park Cemetery in Beverly Hills, MI. Eleanora was a teacher at public schools in Detroit, Wayne, MI. She often entertained at nursinghomes, Boblo Island and at Detroit Lions football games. She received a B.S. in music degree. She played the organ, taught piano and directed several church choirs. She had Social Security Number 385-26-9704 (MI). Obit: The Detroit News, 9/28/2001

Farmington Hills -- Elenora McRobbie Skillman, whose stage name was Merrie Melody on Playschool, one of the firs preschool TV shows in the country, died on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2001, of cancer at her home in Eastport, Mich., near Charlevoix.
She was 74.
There were no children on the set. She talked to the children at home through the TV and they listened, making her show a huge success on Channel 4 between 1952-54.

James McKay Skillman-6640 and Eleanora Marie McRobbie-12860 had the following children: