Frank Strickler

Henry Frank Strickler, age 90, died early Wednesday morning, January 1, 2014, at his home after a period of declining health. He was born August 28, 1923 in Hunter, Arkansas, the only son and youngest child of Henry Frank and Gypsie (Fox) Strickler. When he was a young child, the family returned to his mother's native Cocke County where he grew to maturity and spent the rest of his life. He attended Newport Grammar and Cocke County High Schools and was a member of the CCHS Class of 1942. He was a World War II veteran, serving in the United States Army 752nd Engineer Parts Supply Company. He was at Normandy Beach, the Battle of the Bulge, and other areas of Northern France and Central Europe during this time. Upon his discharge from the military in 1945, he returned to Newport and soon began a long career as a Newport businessman. At different times, he was co-owner of 3-Way Shell and Cocke County Tire with his nephew, Charles Sweeten, Changing Times, and, with Dan Burnett, the English Mountain Dragway. Following his retirement from business, he devoted his energies to raising Black Angus and Limousin cattle and German Shepherd dogs. A member of the local American Legion and VFW, he remained vitally interested in the care and maintenance of the Cocke County Memorial Building. For over 80 years, he was a member of Second Baptist (now Lincoln Avenue) Baptist Church. At the time of his death, he was a member of Memorial Baptist Church. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Frankie Strickler and three sisters: Madge Strickler Sweeten, Emma Sue Strickler Ball, and Mildred Strickler Hall. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Bernice Allen Strickler of Newport; children Meschelyn (Ronnie) Barrett of Newport; Melanie Strickler of Asheville, NC; and Marlan Strickler of Newport; four grandchildren: Traci Barrett of Dandridge; Ron (Alexis) Barrett of Newport and Victoria Barrett, all of Newport; and Hayden Strickler of Asheville, NC; three great-granddaughters Alex Barrett of Santa Monica, CA and Kyndall and Cooper Barrett, both of Newport; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Jimmy and Jean Allen and sister-in-law Dorothy Allen, all of Newport; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Saturday, January 4, 2014, at Manes Funeral Home Chapel with the funeral services following at 1:00 p.m. Rev. Alvin Watts and Rev. Harold Ball will officiate. Interment in Union Cemetery will follow the services. Memorial gifts may be made to Stokely Memorial Library, 383 East Broadway, Newport, TN, 37821 or to Memorial Baptist Church, in care of Newport Presbyterian Church, 399 Hedrick Drive, Newport, TN 37821. Online condolences may be left at www.manesfuneralhome.com. Manes Funeral Home in charge.

Frank Strickler

August 28, 1923 - January 1, 2014