Vicki Diane Wood Skarda, 70, of Hazen, Arkansas, passed away on September 19, 2026. She was born on January 28, 1956, in Camden, Arkansas, to Floyd and Rowena Ridout Wood. Vicki was a proud graduate of Des Arc High School, Class of 1973. She went on to attend the University of Arkansas, where she earned her teaching degree. In August of 1976, she began her teaching career as a 3rd-grade teacher at Hazen Elementary School. Teaching was more than a career for Vicki—it was a calling. Her career as an educator also included serving as a school counselor and an amazing pre-kindergarten teacher who loved her students deeply and had a special gift for making children feel loved, comfortable, and excited to learn. She spent many years pouring her heart into the lives of her students and into the Hazen and DeValls Bluff communities, leaving a lasting impact on countless children and families.
On April 9, 1977, Vicki married Randy Joe Skarda, whom she met on a blind date. Together they shared 46 years of marriage, building a life centered around family, faith, and love. Vicki had always dreamed of becoming a mother, and she and Randy were blessed with three children: Seth (Jaime) Skarda, Randa (Dare) Saul, and Ross (Corinne) Skarda. Her children were a tremendous source of pride and joy. Her grandchildren were her world. Vicki’s favorite job in life was being Nana to her eleven grandchildren: Dylan, Cache, and Archer Skarda; Ireland, Lyla, Vivian, Julianna, Rellic, and Rush Saul; and Carter Jane and Lola Rinn Skarda.
There was nowhere Nana would rather be than wherever her grandchildren were. She went to every game, every activity, every event, and every milestone. If one of her grandchildren was participating, Nana was there cheering them on. She was their biggest fan, their constant supporter, and one of the people who loved them most fiercely. Being Nana wasn’t simply a title to Vicki—it was who she was. She treasured every moment with her grandchildren and took immense pride in watching each of them grow. They will forever carry with them the love, encouragement, laughter, and memories their Nana gave them.
Vicki was a devoted member of Hazen First United Methodist Church for more than 50 years. Her faith was an important part of her life, and she was especially known and loved for her years as a Sunday school teacher. She had a gift for teaching, encouraging, and making others feel loved. She was also a longtime member of Delta Kappa Gamma (DKG), an organization dedicated to women educators and excellence in education.
Vicki never met a stranger. She had a way of lighting up a room the moment she walked into it, and a genuine interest in people that made every conversation feel personal. She remembered names, she remembered stories, and she remembered the things that mattered to you. Whether you had known her for fifty years or five minutes, you walked away feeling welcomed and remembered. It is a rare gift, and it was one of the things people loved most about her. It was always the little things with Vicki. The grandkids gingerbread houses at Christmas, sticky and crooked and made with more icing than anyone needed. The thoughtful gift that showed up when you least expected it, chosen because she had been paying attention. The holiday traditions and decor that lived on because she refused to let them go, and kept them alive year after year until they belonged to everyone. She had a way of making a place feel like home, and everyone in it felt like they belonged there. That was her gift. Not the grand gestures, but the thousand small ones, given so faithfully that you never had to wonder whether you were loved.
Vicki will be remembered as a devoted wife, loving mother, adored Nana, faithful Christian, dedicated teacher, and friend to so many. Her greatest legacy is found in the countless students she taught, the people she served through her church, and most of all, the family she loved so deeply.
Her chair at the ball field, her place in the stands, and her voice cheering for her grandchildren will forever be missed.
Vicki was preceded in death by her parents, Floyd and Rowena Ridout Wood, and her beloved husband, Randy Joe Skarda.
She is survived by her children, grandchildren, sister-in-law Connie Skarda, special cousins Phyllis Newman and Frank(Martha) Skarda, beloved family members, including her nephew Joseph (Wendy) Skarda and their daughter, Raegan; her “Bridge Club” friends; longtime friend Monica Lisko; a host of former students; and numerous other friends she acquired throughout her life.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a program that was very near and dear to Vicki’s heart. She poured countless hours of her time, love, and dedication into supporting this program and its mission of putting books into the hands of children.
She was deeply loved, and she will be profoundly missed.
Visitation will be Friday, September 25th, 2026 beginning at 4:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. held the First United Methodist Church in Hazen, Arkansas. Funeral services will be Saturday, September 26th, 2026 beginning at 10:00 A.M. held at First United Methodist Church in Hazen. Interment will be in the Czech National Cemetery in Hazen, Arkansas.