Lee Spencer Strickland

September 22, 1952 – August 19, 2021

Lee Strickland, 68, of Knightdale, North Carolina passed away on Thursday, August 19, 2021.

Lee was born September 22, 1952 in Fort Bragg, NC to Gaylee Strickland and the late Mary Alice Williamson Strickland.

Lee was a retired US Air Force veteran who proudly served his country from 1976 to 1996, earning many commendations and recognition for service. The United States flag was flown over the United States Capitol in honor of his retirement.

He traveled the world with the military, eventually settling in California in the Travis AFB area. His love of shooting Sporting Clays was born while living in California with his beloved dog Skeet. He was a regular at Birds Landing Hunting Preserve and Sporting Clays and honed his skills in skeet/trap shooting and sporting clays. He continued to participate in Skeet and Sporting Clay charity events for many years to follow.

After retirement from the US Air Force Lee was employed by Nortel Networks for several years prior to returning to North Carolina in 2002 where he held various jobs until final retirement in 2016.

Lee was an avid sportsman and outdoorsman who loved fishing (fresh and salt water), hunting (small game and big), archery, skeet/trap and sporting clays. He enjoyed a true love of nature. He fostered these activities in young and old alike and was always willing to teach anyone that was interested in shooting. While living in Jacksonville, NC he became a shooting instructor with the McIntyre Skeet Range at Camp Lejeune, NC.

Inheriting his mother’s green thumb, Lee loved plants and gardening. He shared this love with his family and friends and most recently with his niece Jennifer and great niece Harper Kate. He was determined to pass along his green thumb!

Lee never met a stranger and had a knack for striking up conversation with anyone he met and when he showed you his Strickland charm, you were hooked! If you were fortunate to be in “his circle” he might grace you with cupcakes, fresh produce, cookies, plants, cuttings; among other things he thought you might enjoy.

Lee is survived by his Beagle, sidekick and constant companion, Molly. In addition, he is survived by his father and stepmother, Gaylee and Florence Strickland; brother, Mark Strickland; sister, Abby Harden (Johnny); stepsister, Susan Yadon (Tom); and stepbrother, Steve Parker (Debra). He is also survived by his niece, Jennifer Broadwell; nephew, Lee Atchison and great niece and most recent love of his life, Harper Kate Broadwell, among other close friends, cousins, aunts and uncles. Lee was preceded in death by his mother Mary Alice Strickland.

A memorial service with full military honors celebrating Lee’s life will be held on Saturday, August 28, 2021 in the chapel of McLaurin Funeral Home at 11:00 am with the family receiving friends immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Wounded Warrior Project,

https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org , or charity of your choice in Lee’s memory. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy for the Strickland family may be entered below within the "add a memory" tab.