Loretta "Laura" Strickland was born on April 10, 1932 in Presque Isle, Maine to Cecil Lannigan and Stella Chambers. She passed away unexpectedly of natural causes on June 3, 2021, at the age of 89. Laura met her husband Charles "Joe" Strickland while he was stationed with the Air Force and she was attending college to pursue her Zoology degree. Laura and Joe were married for 60 years and had two children, Joe and Laurie. Laura spent many years working at the Montgomery Municipal Court as an assistant clerk before pursuing her dreams of working with animals.
Laura has always had a love and passion for animals and wildlife conservation. Laura worked for the Montgomery Zoo as the curator of education teaching people about animals and wildlife conservation for over 30 years. Laura was there in the beginning when the zoo was planned and coordinated. Laura's love of animals and passion to bring awareness to wildlife conservation had led her to travel to many places including Africa. Everyone who know Laura knew that her love for animals was unmatched, even to the point of bringing them into her home. Her children fondly remember growing up with chimps, panthers, and a bat, just to name a few. If there was an animal in need Laura would be the first to lend a helping hand.
Laura was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend. Laura was predeceased by her father and mother, Cecil and Stella Lannigan, her husband Charles J Strickland Sr. her son Charles "Joe" Strickland, and her granddaughter Patricia Strickland. Laura is survived by her daughter Laurie Haynes and her husband Joe Haynes, her daughter in law Rosemary Strickland, her three grandchildren; Michele Pigna and her husband Aldo Pigna, Sean Strickland and his fiancée Heather Swindell, and Amy Arlequin and her husband Raul Arlequin; and four great grandchildren Aldo and Alex Pigna and Sean and Sophia Arlequin. Laura was very active in her community and her church. She was loved by many and will be missed greatly by all those who knew her.
A memorial service will be held on June 27th, 2021 at 1:30pm at Boones Chapel 2301 Co Rd 66 Prattville, Al. In lieu of flowers please make a donation in Laura's honor to one of the following charities that were close to her heart: The Montgomery Zoo or Montgomery Zoological Society. P.O Box 3313 Montgomery Alabama 36109
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