Dianna Lynn Strickland

Dianna Lynn Strickland 54, of McKinney, Texas passed away on December 27, 2013 in McKinney, Texas. She was born on September 14, 1959 in Garland, Texas to parents Robert Lee Strickland and La Christa Lee Ingle. She grew up in McKinney, Texas and attended McKinney High School where she was a cheerleader. She followed many paths in life. She was a Southwestern Bell operator, waitress, ran a consignment shop, bail bond operator, notary public and ran an online business. She was an avid reader and loved reading anything with words. She passed on her love of reading to both of her daughters. She was very artistic and crafty. She was equally good with a skill saw as she was with a paint brush.

She loved music and she loved to dance and enjoyed getting up and being silly and trying to bring the life to every party. She was a fixer as well. There are not many things she could not figure out how to fix, even if only temporarily. She also tried to fix everyone around her. She would take on everyone's problems as if they where her own and would bend over backwards to find a solution. She wanted to make everyone else's life better. No matter how tired or sick she was she could never say no to her family. She was always willing to share her wisdom and life experiences with others. She was not materialistic and would give you the shirt of her back if you asked.

She was a dog lover and was happiest with a dog jumping around her or laying in her lap. She was also good with a gun and used to shoot with her dad and enjoyed practicing with her son. She continued to enjoy life even after her health problems started. Despite her families worries, she would water ski, slip and slide, dive, and do the splits whenever she could.

She was kind compassionate and wonderful mother. She loved her children and wanted to help them have a better life and avoid making the same mistakes that she had made. She was a devoted ,daughter and sister. She loved the Lord and tried to share her testimony with everyone she met. She was a dedicated grandmother and would go above and beyond if it meant putting a smile on her
grandchildren's faces. When she became a grandmother she decided to spend every moment she could making memories to leave as her legacy. She spent most of her days hanging out with her grandchildren and enjoying her life. She will be greatly missed but we will keep ,her in our hearts and treasure our memories of her forever.

She is survived by her mother; La Christa Bonham, husband; Johnny Gill, sisters; Shannon Strickland and Sharon Strickland, brother; Adam Strickland, children; Heather Jordan, Blaine Morris, Billie Jo Strickland, grandchildren; Logan, Koby, Makayla, Blake, Hope, Caleb, Kaleb, beloved pets; Bear, Gypsy and Zoey.

A visitation will be held on Monday December 30, 2013 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Charles W. Smith and Sons Funeral Home located at 601 S. Tennessee street in McKinney, Texas. Funeral services will be held Tuesday December 31, 2013 at 2:00 pm also at Charles W. Smith & Sons Funeral Home in McKinney with burial following at Ridgeview Cemetery in Allen, Texas. Reverend John May will be officiating.