A familiar face in downtown Raleigh dies alone but not forgotten

RALEIGH — Ronald Lymont “Skip” Quick was very visible in downtown Raleigh, most days strolling the sidewalks aided by a tall walking staff that he had covered with ribbons of copper wire that held in place stones, costume jewelry, broken watches, mismatched earrings, a Native American arrowhead, political campaign buttons, trinkets and even real diamonds. Jewelry that Quick had crafted from dark leather, metals and stones of turquoise, ruby and clear blue began at the top of his neck in rich coils and spanned his upper chest. A quiet, stately man with a dark-copper face framed by a full gray beard and sideburns, Quick looked like an African village elder with his own...