The people of the Flat Gap section of Johnson County went greatly shocked when it was learned that Mrs. Leata Skaggs, wife of Rev W B Skaggs had ended her life by jumping into a well. The cause which led Mrs. Skaggs to a rash act was illness from nervous trouble which had unbalanced her mind.

    Mrs. Skaggs had been very ill for the past nine weeks, but she had so recovered that she was up and attending to her household duties.

    On Wednesday morning before ending her life she had completed her work and had gone out to the house. Her family had become uneasy over her absence and instituted a search. After hunting for half an hour her body was discovered in the well by her youngest son. Blutcher Skaggs.

    She is survived by her husband, Rev W B Skaggs, several brothers and sisters, her children and a host of friends and relatives.

    She was the mother of 11 children, 4 of whom had preceded her in death. Her seven children surviving are Ollie Skaggs, Archie Skaggs, Mrs. Dora Fye, Brack Skaggs, Mrs. Katherine Young, Blucher Skaggs.

    Mrs. Skaggs was a devoted Christian woman, a good wife and mother and her passing is regretted by the people of the whole county.

    The body was taken to Point Pleasant Baptist Church where funeral services were conducted at nine o'clock last Friday by Rev H L Hamilton, Rev W W Williams, Rev Freddie Crislip, Rev Hood Wallin and Rev Russell Wallin. The remains were laid to rest in the family cemetery in the presence of a large crowd of relatives and friends.

The Paintsville Herald

Oct 27, 1927 Thursday