Elnora Kaye Stricker

Elnora Kaye Burkhalter Stricker was born in Blackwell, Oklahoma, March 12, 1942, as the third child of Louis A. and Marguerite Burkhalter. She grew up in the small town of Blackwell, where the family had deep roots. Kaye’s father died when she was young, leaving her mother to raise and provide for her alone. She had a brother and sister who were 18 and 20 years older than Kaye. Her love of music was evident early in life. She played trombone in the high school marching band. She attended Oklahoma College for Women where she had been awarded a music scholarship. While performing in the school’s traveling dance band, she met her future husband, Delbert Stricker, from Greeley, Colorado. Del was serving in the US Army nearby at Ft. Sill. Two weeks after their wedding, he was deployed to Europe for 18 months. While he was gone, Kaye taught school in Kansas.

Kaye was a homemaker and mother to two daughters, Sherri and Kimberly. She enjoyed being in the PTA and a being room mother and loved baking special candies and breads during Christmas seasons. Over the years, she directed and sang in several church choirs. In addition, started a handbell choir at Mission Hills Church. Kaye also sang with a select choir, Canto Deo, singing in the community and touring Europe. Having the gift of hospitality, she served on the board of Christian Ministries’ Convention as the Hospitality Chair. With the gift of hospitality, she always took time to make people feel welcome, often hosting them in her home.

Kaye and Del loved to travel to Europe, Hawaii, Mexico and the Mediterranean. Family vacations were a highlight and a special time. Kaye was an avid Rockies fan and held season tickets for many years. Kaye loved having fun and being with people. She loved her five grandchildren and three great grandchildren and enjoyed nothing more than watching them play sports and participate in performances. Kaye loved greatly and will be greatly missed.

Kaye is survived by her husband Del; two daughters, Sherri (Rick) Poellot and Kimberly (Mark) Jones; five grandchildren: Lindsey (David), Jordyn (Mitchell), Emalee, Cobi (Samantha) and Alina; three great grandchildren: Benjamin, Eliot and Eliza (with one more on the way). She was preceded in death by her parents, Louis A. and Marguerite Burkhalter; her sister, Mary Triplett; and brother, Max Burkhalter.

Contributions in Memory of Kaye may be made to: Samaritan’s Purse at samaritanspurse.org/memorial-page/e-kaye-stricker-littleton-co/ or Missions Door, missionsdoor.org/site/Donation2?1500.donation=form1&df_id=1500 For Gift Designation, choose General Fund - 00001CC. In Additional Information, you can check

“Yes, this is an honor or memorial gift” and indicate that it is “In Memory of” Kaye Stricker.