Mr. Ira Steven “Steve” Skees, 71, of Onancock, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loved ones on Wednesday, June 4, 2025.
Born on Dec. 28, 1953, in Norfolk, Steve was the son of Wilbur Elmer Skees and Shirley Juanita Skees.
His childhood was spent in Norfolk with his two younger brothers, Mark and Kenny.
After graduating from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, he moved to the Eastern Shore with his family and spent his career working as an aerospace engineer in trajectory analysis for NASA Goddard Space Flight Center’s Wallops Flight Facility in the sounding rocket program. His career in rocket science would send him on many great adventures all over the world conducting experiments and studying our atmosphere before he retired in 2018. Steve’s focus and technical prowess in the launch control room affectionately earned him the nickname of the “Steely-Eyed Missile Man.”
Steve had a strong passion for the arts, and he became a distinguished, self-taught wood carver and painter. He won many awards and accolades for his unique style and innovations in contemporary antique decoys, as well as other wood carvings. In 2004, he won Ducks Unlimited Carver of the year, and his works adorn people’s homes throughout the country.
An avid hunter and fisherman, Steve shared his love for the outdoors with his sons. Many nights were spent on Cape Point in the Outer Banks catching red drum, cobia, and Spanish mackerel. Many other fishing trips were taken aboard his beloved McKee Craft boat. There were plenty of early mornings in the 1990s spent on Wallops Island in the duck blind hunting black ducks or chasing deer through the dunes before ending the mornings watching dolphins swim in the ocean. He always loved to have a good time and frequently enjoyed his music and Maker’s Mark bourbon whenever there was someone around to share it with; even if he didn’t know the person, he would strike up a conversation. He was very thankful for his hunt club friends, with whom he loved to hang out in his later years.
Steve is survived by his children, Avery C. Skees and wife, Darcie, of Virginia Beach, and Dustin L. Skees and wife, Emily, of Virginia Beach; his brothers, Kenneth B. Skees and wife, Chrissie, of Norfolk, and Mark C. Skees and wife, Rosemary, of Norfolk; his grandchildren, Everett H. Skees and Cohen L. Skees; two nieces; three nephews; one great-niece; two great-nephews; and a host of extended family and friends. Steve was also grateful to his former wife, Patricia, who graciously helped him in his later years and final days.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Wilbur Elmer Skees and Shirley Juanita Skees.
A memorial service to honor Steve’s life will be conducted from the chapel of the Williams-Onancock Funeral Home on Saturday, June 28, at 1 p.m., with Pastor Paul Nolz officiating. Family will receive friends at the funeral home for a visitation one hour prior to the service.
Memory tributes may be shared with the family at
www.williamsfuneralhomes.com
Arrangements are by the Williams-Onancock Funeral Home.
