Grace McAllister Skopin, 63, of New Windsor, passed away Friday, February 14th, 2020. The daughter of William and Mollie (Markley) McAllister, Grace was born on July 27, 1956, in Carbondale, PA. She graduated from Monroe Woodbury High School before completing her Bachelors in Business from Mercy College and her Masters in Special Education from SUNY New Paltz. On March 11, 1978, Grace married Raymond Skopin. They raised 2 daughters Rachel and Shaina.
Grace was a lifetime member of the New Windsor Volunteer Ambulance Corps.
Grace was a special education teacher for over 25 years, and spent 13 of those years at Berea Elementary School changing the lives of her students there. Her devotion to her students was inspirational to others. Grace was known for her capacity for love and only seeing the good in people. When dark times seemed to be constant, Grace’s motto was “I’m only looking at rainbows from now on.”
Grace was predeceased by her father William McAllister. She is survived by her husband Raymond Skopin; mother Mollie McAllister; 2 daughters: Shaina Skopin, Rachel Skopin and her son -in-law Germán Briceño; sister, Anna Jean Brigham; brother Richard McAllister; 4 nieces: Sarah and her husband Peter, Rebecca, Aislinn, and Eirinn; 2 nephews: Matthew and Michael, and 2 grand puppies, Hollywood and Sosa.
A memorial service will be held on February 22, 2020 from 12 - 4 p.m. at Brooks Funeral Home in Newburgh, NY. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in her name to The Special Olympics of New York, and the New Windsor Volunteer Ambulance Corps.