Lawrence Junior Strickland, 89, of Gainesville, MO, died October 21, 2018. JR was born in West Virginia on September 20, 1929, the son of Charles and Delphia Strickland. At age 19, he was saved at a revival in Leatherwood, WV, and baptized in the cold waters of the Elk River. About a year later, he married the love of his life, Dorothy (Dot), and the couple moved to Hebron, IN, where they raised their two sons, Alan and Myron.

JR worked in the steel mills in Gary, IN, and then for Huber Petroleum in Hebron, IN, delivering fuel oil and gasoline to farms and gas stations. JR was a ham radio operator K9WJW (wild John Whiskey) and that interest of electronics led to starting Strickland's TV out of their basement in the 1960s, repairing all manner of electronics, installing towers and antennas, and installing school cable systems. In the early 1970s, JR opened a storefront in a strip mall in DeMotte, IN, selling Zenith and Sony products.

In 1979 JR and Dot sold the electronics business and moved to Gainesville, MO, so JR could fish as much as he wanted. He made good use of that time, becoming something of a local expert and contributing a fishing column to the local paper for some years.
JR also loved bluegrass music, playing guitar and jig dancing as often as he had the opportunity at the local bluegrass circles and festivals.

He is survived by his loving wife Dot; two sons: Alan (Diana) and Myron (Sharon); six grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren: Melissa (Miguel) and their three sons, Jennifer (Rodrigo) and their daughter, Michele (Kris) and their three daughters and son, Michael (April) and their two daughters and son, Richard (Erin) and their son, and Rebecca (Chris) and their son.
He was preceded in death by his father Charles, his mother Delphia (Smith); four sisters: Garnet, Virginia, Bess, and Norma; and three brothers: Clarence, Bobby, and Hurschel.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, October 27, 2018 in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home chapel, Gainesville, MO. Visitation will be Saturday 1 p.m. till service time. The family will honor JR's wishes for cremation following the service. The family asks that memorial contributions be made to: JR Strickland Music Scholarship Fund @ Gainesville Schools.  Arrangements are under the care and direction of Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Gainesville, MO.