BarBara Jo (HigBee) Stirckler
Barbara Jo (Higbee) Strickler, 64, of Eureka, received her wings on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at Greenwood County Hospital, where she had been surrounded with her loving family and friends for a week.
Barbara was born on July 28, 1958 to Orville and Sylvia (Meier) Higbee in Eureka. She grew up in Severy and graduated from Eureka High in 1976. She was a former resident of Enid, Okla. where she lived for over 20 years and worked for St. Mary’s Hospital for most of that time. She moved back in Eureka in 2001.
On February 15, 2002, she married Rocky Strickler in Eureka. They would share the next 21 years together, through thick and thin and always with love. Barbara had a love of sewing and enjoyed making the most beautiful quilts for her family and close friends. She enjoyed sewing circles with her friends, traveling to sewing retreats and working at the Needle in a Haystack and Itchin to Stitch, both in Severy.
She was the Committee Chairman and Scout Masters right-hand women for Boy Scout Troup 216 for 10 years. She enjoyed being involved with the program and making life long friends with the boys in the troop and watching them grow up. She headed up the annual chili feed every year.
Barbara is survived by her husband, Rocky Strickler of Eureka; daughter, Amanda McDonnell of El Dorado; son, Adam Henneke of El Dorado; Matthew (Tisha) Strickler of Eureka; and Crystal Strickler of Eureka; sister, Janice Davis of Marion; and the highlights of her life, 10 grandchildren, Christopher (Laura) McDaniel; Ryeleigh (Shay) Brown, Schauna Altis, Chance Hansen, Ellen Henneke, Marissa (Joe) Day, Tyler Strickler, Noah (Emily) Strickler, Cole Strickler and Mylee Peeples; seven great-grandchildren, Delaney Jo, Everett, Avery, Amelia, Adleigh, Jad and Cooper and many wonderful nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceeded in death by her parents, Orville and Sylvia (Meier) Higbee, her grandparents, Lloyd and Ruby (Key) Higbee Sr. and Louis and Ann (Bitler) Meier.
We will always remember her as a loving and devoted wife, mother, nanny, sister, aunt, cousin and friend. We would like to send a special thanks to staff, nurses and doctors of Home Health of Greenwood County, Greenwood County Hospital and Good Shepherd Hospice for their wonderful and care and support. Memorial services will be held Saturday, August 19, at 2 p.m., in the Neal Community Building, in Neal. Private family burial services will be held in the Neal Cemetery following the service.