Mrs. Mary Ruth Skinner Zurales – a 96 year-old resident of Mobile for over 30 years, and a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully with family on Friday, August 24, 2018. She was born on December 21, 1921 in Clay, Webster County, KY. She attended Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green. She completed her degree at Chicago Teacher’s College and graduated with honors. She was a distinguished educator in the Chicago public schools, and became a life-long Chicago Cubs Fan. In 1968, she moved to Clearwater, FL and continued her teaching career until retiring in 1987. Shortly after retiring, she moved to Mobile, AL where she attended Central Presbyterian Church, volunteered in Mobile Public Schools, taught writing skill to the Mobile Police Department, writing historical fiction, she was an avid reader and never lost her love for learning. Mrs. Zurales was preceded in death by her mother, Jessie Lee Skinner and her stepfather, Eugene Kalb, husband Peter Zurales, brother Robert W. Skinner, daughter, Jane Evelyn Bartels, sons, Peter James and Dr. Robert Wayne Zurales. She is survived by her daughter, Pamela (Phillip) Karagan, Nancy Naughton, and many other friends and family members. Mary Zurales is also survived by her grandchildren, Dorian (Cheryl), David (Jennifer) and Dustin Martorana, Mark and Katie Zurales, great-grandchildren, Ashley Stroessler, Josie, David, Jr., Millie, Reilly and Annie Martorana. Visitation will be held at Central Presbyterian Church in Bellingrath Hall on Friday, August 31, 2018 from 8:30 until 10:00 a.m. followed by a Memorial Service in the sanctuary. Interment will be at Pine Crest Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Central Presbyterian Church, 1260 Dauphin St., Mobile, AL 36604.
