THE SKELETON FAMILY
Buck Worrell maneuvers one of his skeletons for display at his home on Lincoln Avenue in Owatonna. Buck and his wife, Jan, have become known as the “Skeleton Family.” Staff photo Rick Bussler
If there’s one family that knows about “creeping it real” at Halloween, it’s Buck and Jan Worrell and their host of skeletons.
The Worrells have adopted a family of nine adult skeletons, along with three child skeletons. There are also some dog and cat skeletons.
For the past three years, they have displayed the skeletons in their front yard along Lincoln Avenue in Owatonna. And one never knows what to expect because they switch out the display every day from the end of September until Halloween.
For those who drive by on a regular basis, the Worrells have become affectionately, or not, known as “The Skeleton Family.” They have received letters in the mail addressed to “The Skeleton Family,” because most people don’t know their real names.
Wearing a t-shirt that reads “creeping it real,” Buck showed off one of his displays last week. On this particular day, the skeletons were gathered together bobbing for apples from a tank of water.
Some of the other displays have featured the skeletons fishing out of a pond, beach day with life jackets, a lawn mower running over one with another chasing behind, a wedding proposal, and even one showcasing “Cripple Day,” where the skeletons are up on crutches and canes with their legs bandaged up. The skeletons have also piled into a Jeep for a road trip— in the yard.
Buck Worrell said the ideas simply pop into his head. It’s not uncommon for him to wake up at 2 a.m. with ideas for what he should feature in the display, which is taken down every night.
He usually starts early in the morning before his wife gets up to put out the new display.
“I hope he doesn’t ever get sick because there is no way I can do it every day,” said Jan, who is retired from Federated Insurance and Redeemer Lutheran Church.
People are appreciative of the efforts put forth by the Worrells. Someone even dropped off a bouquet of flowers.
“It gets you right there,” Buck said pointing to his heart. “So many people have been so kind.”
The Worrells say they were drawn to doing skeletons for Halloween after visiting their daughter in Utah a few years ago. They saw a display of four skeletons that were changed every day.
“I thought I could do that, not realizing the commotion you make around here,” said Buck, who retired about a decade ago after working at Gandy for 42 years. “I’m just shocked. It has gotten out of control.”
Last year, for example, a family came by wearing skeleton costumes and had their pictures taken.
Though not expected, they have come to appreciate the attention it has created.
“We didn’t do this to get the publicity,” Buck said. “People kept asking for it and we can’t turn them down.”
It has become a sensation on social media with some people posting photos for relatives, and others who have come to wonder where new pictures are if they’re not posted right away.
Buck is aware of people who drive across town to look at their display.
“Some have stopped to thank us because it makes their grandchildren happy,” he said. “People look forward to it.”
Buck and Jan have received many compliments about the display, even after Halloween and throughout the year.
The Worrells say they plan to continue with the display as long as they can make people happy.
“It just makes you feel good,” Buck said, “the enjoyment I see other people having.”