Prominent rancher, community servant lost in tragic accident

Washington County’s agriculture sector and the Weiser community as a whole were left reeling early last week upon hearing of the death of longtime Cove area rancher Kathy Skow. 

 Skow succumbed to injuries suffered in an accident while ear-tagging new calves at her ranch late Monday afternoon, Jan. 23.

 Kathy’s reach and influence was felt throughout the county. She was an active member of St. Agnes Catholic Church and the Catholic Women’s League, along with the Shamrock Club on Weiser River Road, holding many leadership roles in both over several decades. She has been a mainstay in the over 100-year-old Shamrock Club’s annual Harvest Dinner every November, having served there and learned from generations of ranch women preceding her.

 Kathy joined the Skow family when she married husband, Pete, in 1970. In 1971, the couple became the third generation to take over and co-manage the 6,000-acre Cove Creek Ranch, located at the end of Cove Road. She embraced life on the ranch where they raised their three children, Morgan, Travis, and Laraine, along with cattle, dryland grazing, and dryland grains and hay, all the while sustaining multiple species of wildlife.

 Since Pete’s death in 2004, Kathy and son Morgan have continued the ranch’s operation together, welcoming Laraine and her family’s move home in 2018, which has added support to the effort.

 Strong supporters of their children’s school, athletic, 4-H and FFA endeavors, Kathy served as a 4-H leader with the Echo Dell 4-H Club for at least 10 years, sharing with and supporting countless Washington County youth in the process. She has continued the same support for her grandchildren’s steer projects, always on hand at the Washington County Fair as both a fan and a buyer at the annual youth livestock sale. 

 Kathy’s support for Weiser High School athletics has been unwavering over the decades, while her own three children participated, as well as nephews and nieces, and now, her grandchildren. She has been a constant fan of Laraine and her husband, Tom, as coaches of WHS girls basketball and Wolverine football, respectively, never missing a game.  

 Kathy worked as the administrative assistant in Washington County’s Juvenile Probation office since 2006, and at the same time, as the Weiser School District’s substitute teacher caller since 2010, arranging for substitutes in all four of the district’s buildings. In addition, she has served in Washington County’s elections for well over 30 years as the chief judge worker for the East Weiser precinct.

 Memorial Rosary services will be held at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 214 East Liberty in Weiser, Feb. 14, with visitation from 7 to 7:30 p.m., and Rosary beginning at 7:30 p.m. Funeral service is scheduled for Feb. 15, at 11 a.m. at St. Agnes Catholic Church, with a dinner following at the Vendome Events Center.