Obituary of Harold (Skip) A. Lynette III

Harold (Skip) A Lynette III passed away peacefully in the presence of his family on January 9, 2023 after a lengthy illness. His parents Margaret (Peggy) Johnston and Harold A Lynette II, along with his brother William B. Lynette (Nora Belle), brother-in-law Jody Segura (Louise) and his devoted aunt Elizabeth (Betty) Johnston preceded him in death.

Skip was born in Des Moines IA on January 1, 1942. He graduated from Sacred Heart Catholic High School, Hattiesburg MS and felt a calling to serve in the Church as a Christian Brother. It wasn’t long before his attraction to women nixed that idea, and after a year at Spring Hill College, Mobile AL he enlisted in the Air Force making that a 20-year career.

While stationed in Homestead AFB in south Florida he met his soulmate Barbara and they were married on September 9, 1967. Skip served faithfully in such places as Turkey, the Philippines, the USA, Goose Bay, Labrador, Thailand and retired after serving six years in NORAD, Cheyenne Mountain, CO as a Command and Control Superintendent and Intelligence Specialist. During his military career he received the AF Commendation Medal, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, AF Outstanding Unit Award, AF Longevity Service Award, and the AF Good Conduct Medal. Upon his separation from the Air Force in 1981, he was hired by Nestle’s and retired after 18 years.

Skip was a faithful member of St. Raphael Episcopal Church, Security CO for 48 years and previously belonged to the Lions Clubs International in Security and Fountain. During his years in Colorado, he and his family took advantage of the Rocky Mountains every chance they had: camping, skiing, fishing, and lavishing in the spectacular scenery around every corner. And, if you knew Skip, many trips ended in Cripple Creek just to throw a few lucky quarters in the slot machines, always looking for that pot of gold.

He was a devoted and loving husband, father, papa and friend. His family was his world, his smile infectious, and his love for this country unwavering. In preparing his memorial service several years ago, Skip added this footnote:

“No regrets! Had a wonderful life with a beautiful wife and very good children, grandchildren and great-grand children. I would not have changed anything in my life. God was good to me - blessed me with everything I had, did, and especially with my wonderful “Barb.”

Skip is survived by his wife of 56 years Barbara, son Troy Lynette (Jennifer), daughter Danielle Lynette (Mary); grandchildren Ryan Lynette (Taylor), Lindsay Boyko (Spencer), Christian Lynette (Emily); great-grandchildren, Sawyer Lynette and Navy Lynette; sisters Eugenie Morand (Phillip), Katharine Clark (Eugene), Mary Harper (Gary), Louise Segura (Jody), brother George Lynette; sister and brother-in-law Linda and Dan DeWald; lifelong friends Dennis, Cornelia, Trevor and Kelsey McKinney; and numerous, very special nieces and nephews.

His ashes will be interred at Ft. Logan National Cemetery in Denver CO on February 24 at 11:15 AM with full military honors. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, February 25 at 1:00 PM at St. Raphael Episcopal Church, 802 Leta Drive in Security CO 80911, with The Rev. Chris DeVore celebrant. A reception will follow in the parish hall.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Raphael Episcopal Church, or find a stray slot machine wherever you might be and make a donation in Skip’s memory!

“For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart.

It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul.”

Love you forever!

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Death Is Nothing At All-

By Henry Scott-Holland

 

Death is nothing at all. It does not count.

I have only slipped away into the next room.

Nothing has happened.

 

Everything remains exactly as it was.

I am I, and you are you,

and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged.

Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.

 

Call me by the old familiar name.

Speak of me in the easy way which you always used.

Put no difference into your tone.

Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.

 

Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together.

Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.

Let my name be ever the household word that it always was.

Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it.

 

Life means all that it ever meant.

It is the same as it ever was.

There is absolute and unbroken continuity.

What is this death but a negligible accident?

 

Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?

I am but waiting for you, for an interval,

somewhere very near,

just round the corner.

 

All is well.

Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost.

One brief moment and all will be as it was before.