Arlana Marie Skaggs, 70, of West Portsmouth, died Wednesday, January 31, 2024, at SOMC Hospice. She was born November 8, 1953, in Portsmouth, to the late Marcum and Elna (Shackart) McCown.
Arlana received her training as a Nurses Aid from the nuns at Mercy Hospital and spent her career caring for many beloved patients. She was a member of Our Lady of Sorrow Catholic Church. Arlana also worked as a Secretary for the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.
In addition to her parents, Arlana was preceded in death by a son, Joseph Stephenson Skaggs, infant sons, Michael and David, a sister, Madonna Lorene Swal, and a nephew, Peter Swal.
She is survived by her daughter, Rachel Vetter (Jack) of Portsmouth, three sisters, Carolyn McCown of Grants Pass, OR, Marylou Vokes of Portsmouth, and Kathleen McCollugh (Jimmy) of Stout, and many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by two grandchildren, Gracie Lawhorn (Damon) of Texas and Ava Cobern of Portsmouth, special friends and caregivers, Nicole Deaver and Rebecca Jordan.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 AM on Monday, February 5, 2024, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Portsmouth, with Father Brian Fulton officiating. Burial will follow at Rushtown Cemetery in McDermott. A visitation for friends and family will be on Sunday, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Melcher Hammer Funeral Home in Portsmouth, where a Recitation of the Rosary will begin at 6:00 PM
