Paul Elliott Skram

PAUL ELLIOTT SKRAM passed away at Hubbard House, Charleston, West Virginia, on March 5, 2026, after a long battle with cancer. Paul was born in Mason City, Iowa, February 24, 1945. Paul was the 7th child in a large and loving family of 11 children. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mary Elaine and Joseph Elliott Skram; his brothers, Joseph John, Richard Anton, and two sisters, Lillian Kathryn and Eleanor Ann Skram of New York City; his brothers-in-law, Paul Turner of West Linn, Oregon, Frank Tolliver of Charleston, West Virginia, and Lou Hart of Columbia, Missouri; three young nieces: Mary Beth Waite, Alaina Bickhaus, Isabel Symbol Tolliver McKinney, and one nephew, John Joseph Skram. Paul was educated in St. Joseph, Missouri, at Christian Brothers High School, Rockhurst College in Kansas City. Missouri, and graduated from West Virginia State University. Paul spent his growing up years in several cities in the midwest as well as 18 exciting and interesting months in Ankara, Turkey, where his father worked for the US Department of Agriculture and the Government of Turkey. Upon returning to the States, Paul's family settled in St. Joseph, Missouri. Paul spent many of his adult years in Kansas City, Missouri, and later settled in Charleston, West Virginia, where he met his loving wife, Nancy Lovell Tyler, who survives Paul and to whom he was happily married for 28 years. Paul has three children from his first marriage, Paul Christopher Skram of Kansas City, Missouri, Tonya Masters (Casey) of Leawood, Kansas, and Elise Bretz (Doug) of Kansas City, Missouri, and seven grandchildren, Crystal Skram, Christopher Skram, Brook Swann; Alexander Occhipinto; Sophia Occhipinto; Gabrielle Bretz, and Brendan Bretz. Paul was very proud of his children and loved them very much. Paul was well known as a smart, kind, industrious and courageous man, although he had to deal with a life of physical pain and suffering from depression. He helped build the "Tolliver Farm" house where he spent many weekends with friends and family playing guitar, hiking, discovering mushrooms, and photographing the wildlife and plant life of the West Virginia wilderness. Paul was an avid and very good photographer. He could be depended upon to come to the call of friends and family to fix appliances and cars for family or assist with projects. Paul was dubbed "the Death Angel" by his brother-in-law, Frank Tolliver, because Paul was always ready to attend to a sick or dying relative and saw to it that they were comforted and comfortable. While his wife, Nancy Tyler, was seriously ill, he quite lovingly cared for her. Paul had a great sense of humor when it came to his Tolliver nieces. He would drive them to school, often times in the dirty, cow truck used for farm work. The girls would beg to be let out of the truck before the other kids at school would see the truck. Paul is survived by his siblings, Mary Elaine Waite (Jim) of Dayton, Ohio; Suzanne Hart (Lou deceased) of Columbia, Missouri; Nancy Tolliver (Acar) of Charleston, West Virginia; Peter Skram (Beverly) of Denver, Colorado; Patricia Skramturner (Paul deceased) of West Linn, Oregon; and Christopher Skram (Alice) of Aurora, Colorado. A celebration of Paul's life will be held April 25, 2026, at the Tolliver Farm House, where Paul spent many happy times and where friends and family enjoyed his company. Details of the celebration will be forthcoming. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Paul's honor to Women's Health Center of West Virginia, Inc.; West Virginians For Affordable Health Care, Inc., or Fair Shake Initiative, (Statewide Independent Living Council). Condolences may be sent to the family at www.barlowbonsall.com. Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.