Mary Louise Stricklin

Mary Louise, as most knew her, was born in Oklahoma on August 13th, 1940. When she was a young child, her family moved across the country, from Oklahoma to New Mexico, then on to Visalia, CA. Mary attended school in Visalia, graduating from Redwood High School in 1958. Mary met and married her first husband J.B. soon after graduation and together they welcomed three children, Stephen, Scott, and Kelly. J.B. passed away unexpectedly after many years of marriage. After J.B.'s passing, Mary went back to school and became a preschool teacher. She taught little ones with joy and love at Visalia First Baptist Preschool for many years until retiring after the school closed. Mary attended Sierra Baptist Church for over 65 years. It was there that she met, fell in love with, and married Charles Stricklin in 1999. She welcomed three stepchildren with this union, Chuck, Cyndi, and Traci. Mary lived a happy and simple life with Charles on their little plot of land. She enjoyed raising massive gardens, goats, kitties, puppies, and any other little creatures that required care. During their life together, Mary and Charles took several trips together, one of her favorites was a cross country trip to see family. They stopped in so many places, got to see many parts of the U.S. and simply enjoyed taking their time. They stopped to see family in Montana, Idaho, and Minnesota. The very last trip they took was to Long Beach, where they got to go on waterfront adventures filled with family and ice cream. Mary was a wonderful grandmother. Those blessed enough to get to call her Grandma include; Brent, Jake, Abrehm, Madison, Blake, Jacob, Sarah, Joshua, Sydney, Michael, Steven, Nathan, Nicole, Rebecca, and Allison. She loved to give rides in the back of her old pick-up truck, play card games, bake, get her nails done, and utter funny comments under breath to the kids to make them giggle. Mary loved her family so much. Just hours before she passed, she was telling the hospital staff about her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Mary also was given the gift of being a great grandma. The little ones that she loved so much are Evie, Isaiah, Aaliyah, Everleigh, and Gemma. Mary was unwell in the last couple of years of her life and fought hard to overcome each obstacle that came her way. She was not a complainer and joked that she had nine lives, like a cat. Mary had faith in Jesus that when her time came, she would go home to Him. Mary's time came on March 24, 2023, at the age of 82 when she was called home and welcomed into the Kingdom of Heaven. Mary is survived by her loving husband, Charles, her children Scott, and Kelly(Joe), stepchildren Cyndi(Cory), and Traci(Scott), daughters-in -law Angela and Stephanie, grandchildren and great grandchildren as listed above, brother Freeman(Judith), sister Linda(Tom), and many nieces and nephews whom she loved. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Chessie and Allene, her son Stephen, stepson Chuck, and her sister Leora. Mary will be dearly missed; she was a special character in so many lives and was an example of love and faith to all. Services will be held on April 15, 2023 at Sierra Baptist Church, 1437 E. Walnut Ave. Visalia, CA 93292 at 11:00 a.m. A meal will be provided by the church family afterward. Services have been entrusted to Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel. Memorial Tributes and condolences may be offered by logging onto www.salseranddillard.com.

Mary Louise Stricklin

August 13, 1940 - March 24, 2023