Richard A. Strickland

Richard Arthur Strickland, Jr., 59, of Douglas, Wyoming passed away Sunday, June 2, 2013, in Rockford Memorial Hospital due to ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). He was born on January 12, 1954 in Madera, California, the son of Richard and Tencie Ann (Bunch) Strickland. Rich was a navy veteran serving during the Vietnam War era. Rich lived most of his life in Wyoming working as an electrician at coal and uranium mines and later was sent by Caterpillar to repair mining equipment (draglines and shovels) worldwide. Rich's first love was to come home to Douglas, Wyoming to roam the mountains and lakes hunting, fishing and looking for jade. He enjoyed everything about the outdoors in Wyoming and spent as much time in the mountains as possible except for several years he spent fishing (and working) in Wisconsin. He met his wife, Polly Doyle, at the North Antelope Coal Mine in 1985 and they were later married in Camden, Maine. Survived by his wife, Polly of Durand, IL and Douglas, WY; his son, John Nicholas "Nick" Strickland of Milltown, NJ; his parents Richard and Tencie Ann Strickland of Grants, NM; his sister Maytrelle (Bram) McFee of Grants, NM; his brother, Michael (Cheryl) Strickland of Castle Rock, WA; and his brother-in-law, Harry Norris. Predeceased by his brother, Rowe and his sister, Vicky Norris. Private services will be held this fall in Douglas, Wyoming where his ashes will be scattered with those of his best friend Steve Hinckley in the mountains they loved and hunted together. A memorial service will also be held in Grants, New Mexico. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to ALS Association, Development Dept., 27001 Agoura Rd. Suite 250, Calabasas, CA 91301, any local ALS support organization, or a charity that Rich would appreciate.