Jeannette Strickland

Dora Jeannette Strickland, age 87, of Ocala, Florida, passed from this life on Sunday, December 24, 2023,
at Cates Hospice House in Marion County, following an extended illness. She was born on November 27,
1936, in Columbia, South Carolina, to the late Charles Columbus Clayton, Sr. and Ruby Lois (Dobson)
Clayton. She moved with her family to Wildwood, Florida when she was 10 years old. There she attended
school, graduating from Wildwood High School. It was there that she met the love of her life, Lewis
Wayne Strickland, Jr., also known as “Bud.” They were married on December 24, 1955, and moved to
Massachusetts, where Bud was stationed in the US Air Force. In 1957, they returned to Florida and
settled in Ocala and raised a family. Jeannette enjoyed being a homemaker, cooking, and spending time
with her family. She was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where she
played the organ and piano for many years.
After the death of her husband, she moved to Palatka, Florida for several years, eventually returning to
Ocala. In her later years, she was employed as a record keeper with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office,
where she eventually retired. Some of her new hobbies included bowling, playing Scrabble and spending
time with her children and grandchildren. She also enjoyed an occasional visit to North Carolina to spend
time with her nieces and their families.
In addition to her parents, Jeannette was preceded in death by her husband, Lewis Wayne Strickland, Jr.,
brothers, Harold Zennie Clayton, Charles Columbus Clayton, Jr., George Kenneth Clayton and sisters,
Wilma Lane Martin and Mary Alice Garrison.   She leaves behind two sons, Neal Strickland (Karen) and
Scott Strickland (Valerie), three daughters, Debbie Donlan (Mark), Tracey Kelley and Traci Mendez (Osiris), a
brother, Paul M. Clayton, twenty grandchildren, forty-one great grandchildren and two great-great
grandchildren and many special nieces and nephews.
Funeral services have been scheduled for Saturday, December 30, 2023, at 12:00 pm, at the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1831 SE 18 th Avenue, Ocala, Florida. The Visitation will be for one
hour prior to the service, beginning at 11:00 am.  Burial will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens. 
Countryside Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.