Funeral services – Hanceville Funeral Home – Visitation – Wednesday night 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. Graveside Service – 10 a.m. Thursday morning at Duck River Baptist Church.
Survived by: Daughter – Angela Looney (Randy), Grandchildren – David Strickland (Kayla), Hunter Looney (Kayla), Great-Grandchildren – Dawson, Dillion, Madi, Colter, and Ailey. Brothers – Mickey Strickland (Wanda) and Rickey Strickland. Sister-in-law – Dene Hollis. Aunt – Rhoda Echols Howard.
Proceeded in death by: Wife – Faye Ayers, Wife – Betty Strickland. Son – Franklin Strickland, Sister –in – law – Susan.
Born in Cullman County to Walter Eugene Strickland and Annie Pearl Yarbrough Strickland.
Daddy spent most of his life in the Walter community. He attended Walter School, where he played baseball. He told the story that he would hit gravel with a stick to improve his batting. He received a scholarship to play college ball but declined; instead opting to stay home and marry my Mama (the love of his life). They went on to have Frankie and me.
Daddy worked in construction all his life. He told me the story of tying steel bent over for hours on end. He said “One day they were working on a bridge and he looked up to see the other men’s hair standing straight up; he yelled for them to get off the bridge and about that time lightening struck the bridge.”
One of my favorite memories; was at night sitting at the table playing cards.
Daddy worked for several years for Harbert International. He spent time in Israel and Egypt. He helped to build a Multi-National Forces Military Base in Sinai and a grain off loading operation on the Red Sea. His last job abroad was in the South Pacific on an island near Kwajalein. After mama suffered a medical emergency in the South Pacific, they came home and daddy built chicken houses.
He grew chickens for Ingram Farms for over 30 years and raised cattle. Everyone called him “MacGyver”, he could fix it, build it or anything else you needed done.
He had a love for animals. I used to laugh due to the fact as children we had all kinds of animals, including a rooster in our backyard in Birmingham. The neighbors couldn’t figure out where the crowing was coming from.
One of his grandson’s Hunter’s fond memories was of he and Poppie building a Boy Scout Derby car called the “General Lee”. They were both so proud of their car; it also did quite well in the derby, too.
His grandson, David’s greatest memory is of he and Poppie working the farm and Poppie instilling in him the things he needed to do physically and mentally to become an upstanding man so he could follow in his footsteps. He states, “I defiantly have some big shoes to fill.”
Although, the last few years were tough as his health declined, he kept his sense of humor. Every morning when asked how he was doing, he would always say “Well, I’m still kicking, not high but I’m kicking”. Of course as we all do, he wanted to do things his body would no longer allow.
He passed from this earth in the manner in which he wanted; he went to sleep with his best friend and loyal companion (his dog Jake) by his side, and woke up in the arms of Jesus.
Although I will miss his earthy presence and I already find myself reaching for the phone to call and ask yet another question, I rest in the knowledge I will be rejoined with him in Glory.
