Maria “Marlis” Elise Strickland Obituary (1927 - 2019)

Services privately held Maria "Marlis" Elise Strickland, age 92, of Ola, formerly of Clinton, died November 9, 2019. She was born in Duisburg, Germany September 19, 1927 and came of age during the war. During the Allied occupation, she married Roger, a farm boy from Gardner, Kansas. They remained stationed in Germany until 1948 when Roger, Marlis and their firstborn, Robert, returned to the fields of the Sunflower State. In 1963, the family relocated from Kansas to Clinton, when, after visiting the Ozarks, Roger announced that he and Marlis and their six children were moving. All six children attended Clinton schools enjoying their mothers excellent cooking (especially the desserts!) along the way. She was an organic gardener, avid reader, an accomplished seamstress, occasional artist and early environmentalist. Marlis cried when she was happy and cried when she was sad. A city girl, she shocked herself more than anyone that she adapted so well to - and came to love so much - farming, animals and rural life. She partnered with Roger in the construction business. In 1985, Roger and Marlis relocated to Ola, AR to be near their oldest daughter, Barbara. Predeceasing Marlis were Roger (1997), her parents Rudolph and Johanne Eiringhaus, only sibling Rudy Eiringhaus, his wife, Hilda, grandson Russell Humphreys and son-in-law James K. Webb. She is survived by her children and their families, Robert (Patricia) Strickland of Tucson, AZ, Barbara (Lewis) Humphreys of Dardanelle, AR, Joann Leon of Hurst, TX, Linda (Marty) Black of Lake Fork, TX, Connie Webb of Dallas, TX and Michael (Teresa) Strickland of Jacksonville, AR, eight grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren, six great-great grandchildren and one niece, Petra Wardin of Duisburg, Germany.