Funeral services for Irma Leah (Williams) Strickland, 86, of Chickasha, will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 14, 2016 in the Ferguson Funeral Home Chapel with Luke Harris officiating.
Irma Leah (Williams) Strickland was born on December 5, 1929 in Pharoah, Oklahoma, the daughter of Jehu and Mary Esther (Lovin) Williams. She died Monday, April 11, 2016 in Chickasha, Oklahoma.
Irma was the seventh of eight children, all growing up on a farm outside Pharoah. Jehu later relocated the family to Ellenwood, Kansas, where Irma was active in band, playing the French horn and also as a majorette, in high school. As a junior, she moved to Kermit, Texas to complete high school.
There she met Don Strickland, whom she married on January 2, 1948. The couple later moved to Rush Springs, Oklahoma, where Don worked for Mobil Oil Company. Irma enjoyed homemaking, sewing and raising their first two children, Tana and Terry. She and Don were active in the sport of archery and participated in local tournaments.
Irma decided to pursue a career in medical technology and attended Oklahoma College for Women, and completed her training at Comanche Memorial Hospital in Lawton. She and Don then moved to Chickasha after Melissa was born, where Irma began her career at Grady Memorial Hospital as a lab technician. She later became Director of the Laboratory, where she retired in 1992 after 30 years of service.
Upon retiring, Irma enjoyed cooking, flower gardening, antiquing and many trips to Eureka Springs where the family explored unique shops full of arts, crafts and antiques. She was always finding projects for Don to keep busy with. She and Don were married 60 years before his passing in 2008.
Irma was preceded in death by her parents, Jehu and Mary Esther; husband, Don; brothers, James E. and Valton “Tony”; and sisters, Evelyn, Mildred Pauline and Dolly June.
Survivors include daughter, Tana Crutcher and her husband, Mark, of Duncan; son, Terry Strickland of Sapulpa; and daughter, Melissa Owens of Shawnee; one sister and brother-in-law, Dora and Thom Boone of Irving, Texas; one brother, Arvis Williams of Montgomery, Alabama; grandchildren and spouses, Joel and Sonya Ryan, Leah and Wes Ashworth, Josh and Jamie Strickland, Jared and Kim Strickland, Jason Strickland; twelve great-grandchildren and other extended family and friends.
Visitation with family will take place at Ferguson Funeral Home one hour prior to the funeral services, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
The family would like to thank the staff of Glenhaven Retirement Village and Lifeline Hospice for the care given to Irma over the past few years.
A special thanks also to Bob Powell for keeping Irma ‘red’ for all these many many years.
Memorial contributions may be made to Women’s Service Center, 1628 S. 17 th St., Chickasha, OK 73018 or Lifeline Hospice, 1701 W Iowa, Chickasha, OK 73018.
Services and interment in Rose Hill Cemetery are under the direction of Ferguson Funeral Home.