Carly Ann Skaggs, age 28, passed away during the early hours of November 24, 2022, in the care of Beyond Boundaries Supportive Living of Bryant, Arkansas. Born on December 11, 1993, in Las Cruces, New Mexico, she was the second of Roy Phillip Skaggs and Melissa Ann Skaggs three children.

Carly was raised in Arkansas and resided in Hot Springs for most of her life. She was born with the rare genetic condition Fragile X Syndrome, which presented tremendous intellectual and behavioral disabilities that escalated throughout her short lifetime. Carly graduated from Hot Springs High School in 2012 after her peers graciously selected her as prom queen. She spent the next ten years with her immediate family and her final months with caretaker Sabrina Stearns.

Carly was preceded in death by her father Phil Skaggs, her uncle David Skaggs, her cousin Brandy Skaggs, and all four of her grandparents: John and Julia Adams of Lonsdale, Arkansas, as well as Allen and Della Jean Skaggs of Elizabethtown, Kentucky.

She is survived by her mother Melissa Skaggs and her siblings Casey Skaggs and Amanda Skaggs. She is also survived by aunts and uncles Linda and Lon Galvin of Elizabethtown, KY; Pam and Jim Moore of Little Rock; Laura and István Adams of Lonsdale; and Gary Skaggs of North Carolina. Cousins Mark Galvin, Mitchel Galvin, Jarred Jacobs, Steven Jacobs, and Caroline Moore survive her as well. Carly was a beloved member of Hot Springs First Baptist Church who really enjoyed her Sunday School classes taught by Joey Dean, Tresa McFarlin, and Tom Heckman. She loved keeping up with all her books. She was never really ready to quit school because school encompassed most of her childhood and she found comfort in it. She very much loved Tresa, who became a critical member of Carly's life during her final year.

Carly's favorite hobbies were singing, writing, and playing basketball. Music had always been a vital part of her life. She was especially fond of Taylor Swift's first albums and of the High School Musical soundtracks. Her family would hear these same songs every day for so many years. She also loved Christmas songs and had the uncanny ability to remember the lyrics to dozens of them without listening to the music. If anyone got the lyrics wrong, she was quick to let them know. She also had a unique laugh and sense of humor that brought smiles to many.

Carly also enjoyed keeping organized, doing her delegated chores, practicing intense personal hygiene, taking notes on her calendar, journaling, and reminding people of easily forgotten things such as putting out the dumpster on Wednesday so that it could be emptied on Thursday, and that there's a doctor's appointment tomorrow at such and such time. She was also very worried about dinner every day even though she never went without, so sometimes her concerns weren't realistic, and when a rule was put in place that she could not ask until 2 o'clock, she asked on the dot each and every afternoon without fail. In fact, her memory was impeccable. She would remember the smallest details and the exact dates during which events occurred.

She loved anything purple and enjoyed wearing jewelry to match. She always had a beautiful head of curly locks and it is only a coincidence that her name has a one-letter difference between the definition of her hair. Perms of the highest degree could not keep it straight. She wanted her hair to be like everyone else but we all know how gorgeous her natural curls were. Her family often reminded her of her natural beauty and that straight hair was not perfect hair. Carly loved her family deeply, including the family dogs Abby and Delilah. Carly eventually learned to give her mother insulin injections in her mid-twenties and inquired about her blood sugar often. A forgetful diabetic with a serious tremor and a degenerative neurological disease, her mother Melissa needed assistance. Carly always made sure that her mom was taken care of to the best of her ability, even if her abilities were low and even if she was upset.

Before puberty hit, Carly's Fragile X Syndrome had a mild effect on her behavior and on her life. She was able to play almost like any other child. She enjoyed the things that other children enjoyed and handled life well. The autism that accompanied her condition was not yet so devastating. Once she hit puberty around 2006-2007, her behavioral problems increased dramatically and her sensitivity to the world around her became severe. After the loss of her father in 2016, she sunk into a depression that could never be remedied. She continued to receive love from her remaining family and the community she was part of. Still, a part of her would always be missing and her ability to function would continue to decrease over time.

Due to Carly's special needs, the medical community often ignored her physical issues. This was a major problem throughout her existence. It was difficult to know what was behaviorally based and what was physically based, and she was often dismissed by doctors and other medical professionals. Even mental health professionals would say there was nothing they could do for her, and her depression was often overlooked. Doctors continued to dismiss her during the last months of her life. Therefore, Carly's death is partly a result of a neglectful medical community that saw her as a mental patient with behavioral issues and not a human being with physical issues.

Now that Carly has been reunited with her father, she is whole and free of her earthly illnesses and limitations. As we grieve, let us also rejoice in her newfound freedom. Rest in peace, dear Carly Ann.

The memorial service will be on December 07, 2022, at 11:00 am at First Baptist Church l2350 Central Avenue Hot Springs, Ar 71913.

Donations can be made to https://gofund.me/2be6adad for Carly.

The guest registry is at http://www.carriganmemorial.com

Arrangements are entrusted to Carrigan Memorial Funeral Services.