Dean Blake Skinner Jr., 70, peacefully passed away in his sleep on December 11, 2022, in Dowling Park, Florida.

Dean was born on September 21, 1952, to Dean Skinner Sr. and Eleanor Simpson in Newton, NJ, and was raised in Whitefield, New Hampshire. After graduating from White Mountain Regional High School in 1971, he pursued his Bachelor's degree in Social Work with a minor in Theology from Berkshire Christian College in Lennox, Massachusetts. It was there that he met the love of his life Deborah and the two were wed on May 23, 1976. He went on to get his Master's degree in Sport Management from the United States Sports Academy in Daphne, Alabama. Dean became an ordained minister in 1990 at the Lakeland Advent Christian Church in Lakeland, Florida. Dean served as a Pastor and a youth pastor at several churches throughout his lifetime, sharing with whoever would listen about how the Lord Jesus saved him.

He also had a strong passion for athletics, both as a player and a coach. He played basketball, soccer, and baseball in high school and went on to compete in basketball and soccer at the collegiate level very successfully. He also coached soccer and basketball at both the high school and collegiate levels, having won several "coach of the year" awards. Though he had a lot of success coaching, and even won a National Championship at the high school level at Cornerstone Academy in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, athletics were never just about winning for Dean. He took the time to invest in the personal, academic, and spiritual growth of his players and assistant coaches.

Dean also enjoyed working at summer youth camps, eventually serving as director of the Alton Bay Christian Conference Center in Alton, NH as well as Camp Dixie in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Everything he did he tried to do for the glory of God and for the good of people. He loved God and loved people.

Dean was a faithful husband and father, modeling what it meant to love the Lord in obedience, integrity, and passion. He is survived by his college sweetheart and wife of 46 years, Deborah Skinner; son, Andrew S. and his wife; son, Nicolas S. and his wife; son, Christopher S and his wife; brother, David Skinner; brother, Stanley Skinner, sister Linda Enderson, as well as 8 grandchildren, and countless friends. A memorial service will be held at 2 pm Friday, December 16, 2022, at Westside Baptist Church, 13969 Railroad St, Live Oak, Florida, officiated by Pastor Timothy Setzer. All are welcome to attend. If desired, friends may make memorial contributions to the Skinner family.

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