Irene Strachan

Irene Strachan

May 25, 1920 - April 27, 2020

Edna Irene Roy Strachan passed away in the early morning hours of April 27, 2020. Through 99.9 years, Irene lived a long and happy life, centered on her family, both immediate and extended, dear friends and church members.

Born in Corinth, Mississippi on May 25, 1920, Irene came into the world during the roaring 20's and an age of abundance. She was one of five children (Lillie Mae, Marietta, John, and Kathryn Eudora) born to John Alfred Roy and Verdie Myrtle McKewen. Irene married the love of her life Leonard Gerald (Quack) Strachan in 1938 and they were married for 40 years before Quack passed of a heart attack in 1978. Irene and Quack were blessed with two living children, Anne, David, and Virginia which passed after only three months. Anne married her high school sweetheart, Phillip Ryan and they had two sons, Jeff and Bart Ryan.

Irene lived through times of great conflict; the Great Depression, VWVII, the Cold War, the Korean war, the Vietnam war, the civil rights movement, and the Gulf wars. She also witnessed America at its greatest and was a member of the "Greatest Generation." She was constantly amazed at America's ability to innovate. She often stated "Necessity is the Mother of Invention." She saw America complete the Panama Canal, astronauts walking on the moon, switch from steam to diesel power, the first mega computers to laptops, tube televisions to LED televisions, party line phones to cell phones, and model T Fords to Supersonic rail systems, just to name a few. However, I think one of the modern innovations that she admired the most was "Indoor Plumbing!"

Irene remained grounded in her upbringing during the Great Depression. She was very frugal and always saved for a rainy day. Open her refrigerator and you would find at least 10-20 old butter containers filled with leftovers. She never spent on extravagance and only bought what she believed to be a necessity. She never asked for help and always put family and friends first. She would gladly give the shirt off her back or her last container of food to anyone in need. As a devout Christian, she was truly a "Servant Leader".

Though the good times and bad, Irene kept her sense of humor. One goal she had each day was to try and put a smile on someone's face, make them feel good and blessed. From early in life as a Mississippi State High School Basketball Champion, Irene, also known as "The smiling forward on the basketball team," had a great love of sports. She enjoyed watching baseball, football and the occasional golf tournament. She never missed any of her grandson's games and was always their biggest fans. She also loved being out doors and working in the yard or garden. She continued to mow her own lawn to the age of 97. She never met a stranger, met everyone with a smile, and enjoyed life to the fullest.

Though she was born in Mississippi her roots were in Pecos, Texas. Irene moved to Pecos in 1950 and Pecos quickly became her home. She worked at the "Green Stamps" store and did various other odd jobs throughout her life. She was most proud of being a great wife, homemaker, grandmother, neighbor, and friend. Irene was the foundation of her friends whom she cared for in whatever capacity was needed anytime day or night.

She was a proud active member of The First Christian Church of Pecos and loved her church family with all her heart. She became known as "The Donut Lady" as she would provide donut holes for the congregation each Sunday morning. Even when she was too tired or sick to attend services, she would still go and deliver the donut holes every Sunday.

Irene is preceded in death by her parents, John and Verdie Roy, her brother John Roy, sisters Lillie Mae Voyles and her husband Hubert, Mary Weaver and her husband Rayford, and Eudora Allen and her husband Ray, son David Strachan, daughter Anne Ryan, and nephew Don Weaver.

Irene is survived by her Son In Law Phil Ryan and wife Margaret, grandchildren, Jeff Ryan and wife Sheryl, Bart Ryan and wife Amye, Penny Stevenson and husband Tony, Kevin Ryan and wife Candi, 12 great grandchildren, Avrie Ryan, Colten Ryan, Cassidy Ryan, Matt Jordan and wife Lauryn, Chad Jordan and wife Alexa, Brayton Ryan, Shae Stevenson, Austin Bondl Lili Hertberg, Sterling Ryan, Aryia Ryan, Amelia Ryan, 3 great great grandchildren, Connor Jordan, Vera Jordan, Harlow Jordan and five nephews, Johnny Weaver, Jimmy Voyles, Dan Roy, Edd Roy, and Chip Allen.

Pallbearers are Bart Ryan, Colten Ryan, Matt Jordan, Chad Jordan, Tony Stevenson, Ian Hoyt and Caleb Hoyt. Honorary pallbearers are Johnny Weaver, Jimmy Voyles, Dan Roy, Ed Roy, and Chip Allen.

The family would like to express their deepest love and gratitude for all the caregivers at Asthon Medical Lodge, family, friends, and loyal church members that made Irene's life very comfortable and pleasant over the past year. A very special thanks goes out to Ms. Billie Barton, Irene's roommate at Asthon, who took very special care of Irene over the past year.

In lieu of flowers the family is asking for donations to be made to the First Christian Church of Pecos, P.O. Box 1862, Pecos Texas, 79772, c/o Mr. Jerry Patterson, Irene's second home.

Viewing will be at Pecos Funeral Home, 607 West 3rd Street, Pecos Texas 79772 from 11-4 on Friday, May 1, 2020, due to the COVID19 Outbreak, only the immediate 10 members of the family are able to attend this visitation. A viewing for other family and friends will begin at 9:15 Saturday, May 2, 2020 prior to us leaving for the cemetery, we will go in procession to the cemetery from funeral home. Graveside services at Mount Evergreen Cemetery, off of Shaw Road in Pecos Texas, at 10:00 am on Saturday, May 2, 2020.