James W. Strickland, Jr

Our beloved daddy, dad, father, papa, grandpa, great grandpa, great great grandpa, James Weaver Strickland, Jr., has passed on from this life to his eternal home.  On May 9, 2017, Jesus took his hand and led him home, where many, many loved ones were waiting his arrival, most especially his beloved Gerry.

Our dad was born in a small town in southeastern Oklahoma called Millerton on November 18, 1928.  He grew up and schooled in the nearby town of Valliant, Oklahoma.  As a teenager his adventurous nature led him on many exciting excursions, and he had a ba-zillion stories to share about them.  Eventually that same nature led him to join the U.S. Army and he traveled to Fort Lewis, WA for his basic training.  During time spent in the Richland area for field training he met the love of his life and future bride, Geraldine Ann Orren.  They were married as soon as she graduated from high school on August 4, 1951.  One month after their marriage dad had to leave country with his division to Okinawa where he proudly served during the Korean War.  He was there when their first child, Karen Sue, was born.  When he was honorably discharged from the Army, they settled in Richland, where together they raised four kids; Karen, Randy, Kathee, and Steve.  He went to work at Hanford in 1953 where he made many many wonderful lifetime lasting friendships.  He retired in 1989 and he and mom spent the next several years traveling and pulling their fifth-wheel trailer back and forth between here and Arizona in the winter.

He is preceded in death by his beloved wife Geraldine Ann Strickland.  He is survived by his many children; daughter Karen Sue Diener (husband David), son Randy Strickland (wife Valorie), daughter Kathee Ann Hirsch (husband Terry), and son Steve Strickland; grandsons Jason Curd (wife Tawnya), Justin Strickland, granddaughters Ashlee Hirsch, Emylee Hirsch, Hunter Strickland, and Shelby Strickland; great grandsons Zachary Gan and Boston Curd, great granddaughters Colbie and Micayla Tomasli; and great great grandsons Maddon Maynard and Easton Tomasli.

Our family would like to thank the Professional Case Management staff who so lovingly and tenderly took care of our daddy during his short illness and battle with cancer, and also the Hospice staff.  We literally could not have dealt with this without them!

Those special memories of you

Will always bring a smile

If only I could have you back

For just a little while

Then we could sit and talk again

Just like we used to do

You always meant so very much

And always will do too.

To face that you’re no longer here

Will always cause me pain

But you’re forever in my heart

Until we meet again.

Viewing will be held at Einan’s at Sunset on Saturday, May 20, 2017 from 1pm-5pm. The Funeral Service will be at the Richland Nazarene Church, 2500 Jericho Road in Richland, Sunday, May 21, 2017 at 2pm, followed by the Graveside Service at Sunset Gardens, 915 ByPass Hwy in Richland.