Sandra Kay Strickland

Sandra Kay Strickland peacefully passed away Monday, May 11, 2026 at her home surrounded by her family. Graveside services will be at 2:00 p.m. Friday, May 15th at Cottonwood Cemetery with Pastor Buddy Sipe officiating. There will be a visitation from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday, May 14th at Pecan Grove Funeral Home.

She was born in Waco, Texas, on July 21st, 1949, to her parents, Dee Welder Alewine and Jeffie Lorene (Glenn) Alewine. She spent her early childhood in Waco before moving with her family to Golinda when she was in the eighth grade, where she began attending Lorena Schools. Sandy graduated from Lorena High School in 1967 and immediately began working for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company.

Not long after, life brought her a love story that would shape the rest of her days. One evening after work, she was approached in the parking lot by a handsome young soldier from Fort Hood named Eddie Ray Strickland. What began as a chance meeting quickly turned into a whirlwind romance. With Eddie preparing to deploy to Vietnam, they chose not to wait and were married just six weeks later on October 6th, 1969, at Golinda Baptist Church. Together, they built a beautiful life and shared 47 wonderful years of marriage until Eddie’s passing in 2016.

Sandra was a devoted wife and a loving mother. She and Eddie welcomed their first child, Deborah Ann (a strong willed and spirited child), in 1971, followed by their son, Christopher Ray (a mischievous red head), in 1980. She often joked that it took her nine years to find the courage to have another child after raising Deborah Ann — a reflection of her humor and honesty, both of which were such treasured parts of who she was.

Family meant everything to Sandy. She loved spending time with those she cherished most, and some of her happiest memories were made on family trips to North Carolina each summer to visit Eddie’s family. She worked faithfully at Southwestern Bell for 30 years before retiring, but retirement did not keep her still for long. She soon returned to work as a 911 dispatcher for the Waco Police Department — a role that perfectly suited her sharp mind, strong spirit, and love of knowing exactly what was going on. She truly enjoyed that chapter of her life.

After Eddie passed, Sandy continued to live with courage and curiosity. She embraced adventure, traveling to Alaska, where she rode the train across the state, visited Denali, rafted through icy waters, and explored a wildlife refuge. She also fulfilled a lifelong dream of visiting Maui, where she enjoyed the beauty of the beach, a luau, and the simple joy of sitting beneath a palm tree with a fruity drink in hand.

If you knew Sandy, you knew she was one of a kind. She had a strong and independent spirit, a wonderful sense of humor, and an honesty that was unmistakably hers. You never had to wonder what she was thinking — she would tell you. She was intelligent, hardworking, resilient, and deeply authentic. She lived life on her own terms, and that is something we will always admire about her.

Sandra leaves behind a family who loved her deeply: her daughter, Deborah Ann Jackson and husband Sean; her son, Christopher Ray Strickland and wife Rachel; her grandchildren, Trent Jackson and wife Yazmin, Nicholas Jackson, Olivia Strickland, Eli Strickland, and Roman Strickland; and her great-grandchildren, Wayne and Gabriella, with another precious little one on the way.

She was welcomed into heaven by her beloved husband, Eddie Ray Strickland, and her parents, D.W. and Lorene Alewine.

Our family would like to sincerely thank everyone for the calls, visits, prayers, and support during this difficult time. We are also deeply grateful to the staff and nurses on the 4th floor at Providence, Autumn Leaves Rehab in East Texas, and Compassus Hospice for the compassion and care they showed our mom. Your kindness meant so much to us and will never be forgotten.

Today, as we remember Sandy, we celebrate a life filled with love, strength, laughter, and fierce devotion to family. Though our hearts are heavy, we are grateful for the memories she gave us, the lessons she taught us, and the love she leaves behind. She will be missed deeply, remembered always, and loved forever.