IN MEMORIAM
EXPANDED EULOGIES
“In Memoriam” listings are expanded paid obituaries, phrased as the family requests, and may include enhanced information or photographs that might not fit within free death notices.
Roma Skaggs
Funeral services for Marion native Roma Joyce (Collett) Skaggs, 85, who passed away April 6, 2025, at Goshen Home Care in Shawnee, will be 10 a.m. Saturday, April 19, 2025, at Highland Park United Methodist Church, 2914 SE Michigan Ave., Topeka.
Pastor Larson Marshall will officiate. Visitation will be an hour before the service at the church. A graveside service is planned at Mount Hope Cemetery after a luncheon at the church.
Roma was born Dec. 1, 1939, in Marion to Henry and Ethel (Higgins) Collett. She enjoyed being one of nine siblings in this large farm family. She was the fifth of five girls and the sixth child born to the couple.
She participated in marching band, Girls State, choir, and theater at Marion High School.
Roma attended the University of Kansas and obtained a teaching certificate. She taught elementary music and kindergarten at Marquette High School. There she met and was married from 1959 to 1984 to Richard Lyle Erickson of Assaria. They had three children.
Roma worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone, later AT&T, for 15 years.
She met and married William P. Skaggs in 1987. They lived in Topeka until his death in 2018.
Roma had gifts for music, art, and baking. She contributed her gifts by singing in the church choir, making wedding cakes for nieces and nephews, and growing gorgeous roses and sunflowers in her garden.
She loved to spread positivity by creating joy for others. She enjoyed spending time with grandchildren and members of her extended family.
She had been a member of Highland Park United Methodist Church in Topeka since 1988. She sang in the choir, served as a reader, and participated in a women’s circle for many years.
She moved to the Kansas City area in 2018 to be near relatives.
Roma is survived by daughters Konnie (and husband Steve) Schuman of Lenexa and Joani (and husband Wayne) Jones of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and son Dana (and wife Jennifer) Erickson of Dunwoody, Georgia.
Also surviving are brothers Howard Collett, Mark Collett, and Stacy Collett, all of Marion, and sisters Shirley Bowers of Marion, Anita Sly of Salina, and Clarice Hammer of Olathe.
Roma also is survived by stepchildren Michael D. (and wife Bev) Skaggs of Sun City, Arizona; Marianne (and husband Charlie) Pitts Skaggs of Swansea, Illinois; Annette (and husband Dan) Rohde of Overland Park; and Michael S. (and wife Linda) Skaggs of Olathe.
Also surviving are 10 grandchildren and step grandchildren: Joel Schuman of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Eric Schuman of Kansas City, Kansas; Kelsie (and husband Colson) Wilhoit of Lee’s Summit, Missouri; Katlin (and husband John) Grindle of Flowery Branch, Georgia; Hayden Erickson of Dunwoody, Georgia; Matthew Rohde of Olathe; Emily Rohde of Longmont, Colorado; Steven Rohde of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Elaine (and husband Michael) Bestenlehner of Gilbert, Arizona; and Kathy (and husband David) Jaffe of Angelus Oaks, California, in addition to eight great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by father Henry Collett, mother Ethel Mae Collett, sister Marjorie Talbott, brother Steve Collett, and great-granddaughter Violet Erickson.
Memorials are suggested to the Capper Foundation of Topeka, 3500 SW 10th Ave, Topeka KS 66604, online at www.capper.org.