By the family

March 29, 2025: Ann Qualtrough Williams Skok passed away on March 26, 2025, in Winston Salem, North Carolina, two weeks prior to her 92^nd birthday.

Ann was born in Galveston, Texas on April 14, 1933, where she lived a charmed life, developing her love of food at her favorite restaurant, Gaido’s, and playing on the beach. Affectionately known as “Grann”, she was a “foodie” before that was a “thing”, a die-hard Longhorn football fan and a horticulturalist who knew the botanical name for every plant, flower, tree and herb in her (and your) yard.

Following her graduation from Ball High School in Galveston, Ann was “sent east” to Stuart Hall in Staunton, Virginia to spend a post-graduate year before attending THE UNIVERSITY (known to some as the University of Texas, Austin – Hook ‘Em) where she was a proud member of Alpha Delta Pi. She met her future husband, Paul, who was completing his fellowship in Neurosurgery at Baylor University, Houston. She knew he was the one when they met at a party and she asked what music was playing and he confidently replied, Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana”. Music remained a very important part of their life. Paul was an accomplished piano player and the first purchase they made in their lifelong home in Bronxville, NY was a Steinway Concert Grande where the family played, and friends gathered. 

Ann was extremely proud of her involvement in Boulder Ledge Garden Club, the Junior League of Bronxville and countless volunteer positions at the Bronxville School to support her children. Her vegetable garden in Bronxville was more like a mini farm than a garden and she was well before her time establishing the first Recycling Center in Westchester County in the late 1970s. Growing and protecting the environment were gifts she shared deeply and joyfully with her son John.

Following the early passing of Paul in 1985, Ann moved back to Texas and settled in Austin where she enjoyed BBQ (Texas BBQ, that is), gardening, eating, cooking, reading, organ music, traveling to Stanley, Idaho with her sister Sandy and, of course, watching Longhorn Football. She ate her way across New Orleans (often eating her weight in oysters from Cassamento’s) and was happiest traveling to France. Her last trip to Paris coincided with the historic fire at Notre Dame, where she loved listening to organ concerts, and only found solace in eating at Brasserie Lipp and Taillevent Paris.

After the birth of grandson Sam, she relocated to North Carolina where she lived until her death, happily intertwined with her daughter Lilly, son-in-law Al, and Sam. She loved nothing more than traveling to the beaches of North Carolina, eating shrimp and watching Midsomer Murders on PBS North Carolina on Saturday evenings with Lilly and Al.

Ann is survived by her three children, Susanne of Fort Collins, CO (Dave Levinson), John of Denver, CO (Monica) and Lilly of Winston Salem, NC (Al), and four grandchildren, Paul, Charles, Samuel and Piper. She was preceded in death by her husband, Brigadier General Dr. Paul Skok; her sister, Sandra Williams Graham, and her beloved dog of 13 years, Dixie.

A Celebration of Life and 92^nd Birthday Party will be hosted from 2pm – 5pm on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at the home of Ann’s daughter Lilly, son-in-law Al and grandson Sam. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Highlands Cashiers Land Trust, 348 S. 5^th Street #214, Highlands, NC 28741, restricted for the Wildwood Fund to purchase lands to conserve. Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com