Jan’s Story

Jan was born on October 16, 1934, in Portland, Oregon, to a close-knit family. She attended Dallas High School before studying at Lewis & Clark College. She began her professional career as a secretary at a Salem law firm, where she met her future husband, Otto Richard Skopil, Jr., who would later serve as a judge on the United States District Court. 

In 1972, the family relocated to Lake Oswego, Oregon, marking the beginning of Jan’s life as a devoted wife, mother, and vibrant community member.

A woman of deep faith, Jan actively participated in Bible Study Fellowship and later led a Bible study for local junior high and high school students, impacting the lives of many young people in her community. She also excelled as a real estate agent, co-founding Hatfield & Skopil Realty with her close friend Antoinette Hatfield, where her warmth and conversational skill turned clients into lifelong friends. 

Jan was talented in many areas. Her early love for music led her to play the organ for her church and join Lewis & Clark’s touring choir. She was an avid horsewoman and competed on gaited horses and hackney ponies. She was also very skilled in calligraphy and she created many projects that showed her love for words, color, and letters. Her friends and family eagerly anticipated her annual celebration cards each year. Jan was a beloved member of the Portland Society for Calligraphy and served on the board for several years. 

Jan left an indelible mark on her friends, family, and the artistic world. Her favorite words, “YES” and “GRATITUDE,” and her life mantra, “Someday is Now” embodied her enthusiastic, generous spirit.