Homer Richard Strong b. 29 Feb 1908 Junction City, Comanche County, Oklahoma d. 19 Sep 1990 Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma: Strong McLemore Ancestry

1908 - 1990 (82 years)

Name	Homer Richard Strong [1]
Birth	29 Feb 1908	Junction City, Comanche County, Oklahoma [1, 2]
Gender	Male
Death	19 Sep 1990	Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma [1]
Burial	22 Sep 1990	Duncan Municipal Cemetery, Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma
Notes	Homer was born in a Leap Year's day, February 29, 1908. He used March 1 as his "official" birthday, however, so he could celebrate it each year instead of only once every four years. He was eight when his mother died, and twelve when his father remarried. Neither Homer nor Barney were pleased with their new step-mother, Stella Crouch. They left home around 1925, and went to Portales, New Mexico, to live with their Uncle Rolla Strong. They grew enough beans and maize to feed the horses, and lived on Rolla's $17 a month pension from the Navy. They also spent sometime with their grandfather, Ralph, at his Ranch in nearby Pep. In 1927, Homer moved back to Duncan, Oklahoma to be closer to his parents. He worked for a cotton gin. In 1929, he went to live with his Uncle Alois Soukup in Prague, Oklahoma. His Uncle died in an explosion while trying to rechannel a creek. Homer and a friend were in the creek setting the dynamite, while Alois on the bank putting in the fuses. Homer lost the hearing in one ear as a result of this explosion. After his Uncles death, he returned to Duncan. This is where he met his wife, Anna Laura at a dance. At the time of the 1930 census, he was a boarder with the Elmer Michels family in Duncan. 1930 census Stephens Co. OK King Twp., Duncan city ED 69-28 Sheet 3A & 3B 1210 Spruce 69/70 Michels, Elmer A. and family Strong, Homer R., boarder, MW 21 S OK US US At the time, Homer was painting signs for Fuzzy Carter, at his sign company. Bill and Charles Strong both caddied for Fuzzy years later, when they were teenagers. Fuzzy had a sing up during WWII that said, in one continuous statement, "Quityourdamnbellyachingandbuymorewarbonds." This sign was on the side of the Palace Theatre. In 1936, Homer went to work for Coca Cola for $15 a week, painting signs. It was during the depression and work was scare. Roonie recounts that one day they simply ran out of food. Their eldest son was just an infant. Roonie said all they had in the house was one heal end of a loaf of bread. She borrowed a spoonful of syrup from their neighbor, and put that on the bread for Charles. She and Homer did without that day. Although there were many other days that food and money were very sparse, that was the only day they did totally without. Homer was drafted in 1943, and helped train men at Fort Sill. He was discharged as a Sergeant First Class on March 15, 1949, and forever after was known by his nickname "Sarg." He was a Radio Repairman (Instructor) 8648, and eventually was in charge of the radio repair school at Fort Sill. Charles Strong notes that Homer's being drafted was what brought the family out of poverty and put them on the road to economic stability. Homer went back to Coca Cola after the war, and then to Halliburton. He worked for Halliburton from 1951 to 1972. He was a sign painter and worked in their carpentery shop. His military records show that he completed 8 years of Grammer School, but did not attend High School. His wife Roonie recounted that Homer was always a bit defensive about his lack of a formal education. He worked hard later in his life to make up for this. He read extensively, and took continuing education courses in subjects such as Spanish. He loved music, and had a wide collection of tapes, ranging from country and western to Spanish Flamenco to opera. Although he had no training in music, he would write out the scores of his favorite songs by listening to them over and over again, recreating them on his keyboard, and then writing them out. He also loved to do the daily crossword puzzle, in pen. After they retired, he and Roonie were able to travel to Europe, where they stayed where they visited their son Bill, who was stationed in Germany. Homer's obituary in the Duncan, Oklahoma newspaper read as follows: H.R. "Sarg" Strong, 82, 1806 Birch, died Wednesday, September 19, 1990, in a Duncan hospital. A Rosary will be at 7:30 pm Friday in the Don Grantham Funeral Home Chapel. Service will be at 10 am Saturday in Assumption Catholic Church with Father Paul Gillespie officiating. Burial will be in Duncan cemetery. Mr. Strong was born March 1, 1908 in Lawton. He was retired from Halliburton Services, and a U.S. Army veteran, serving from 1943 to 1948. He was a member of Assumption Catholic Church. On October 23, 1931 (sic), he married Anna L. Payne in Waurika. Survivors include his wife of the home; five sons, Charles Strong of Edinburg, Texas, Bill Strong of Yukon, John Strong of Duncan, Tom Strong of Phoenix, Arizona and Paul David Strong of Santa Barbara, California; two daughters, Caroline Brasher of Duncan and Theresa Rutledge of Austin; four brothers Barnie Strong of Gainesville, Texas and Bob Strong, Cecil Lewis and Jack Strong, all of Lawton; a sister Viola Weaver of Gainesville; 23 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. (Note: at the time, Homer actually had 22 grandchildren and nine great granchildren). Bearers will be grandsons. Don Grantham Funeral Homes, Duncan, Oklahoma. (Medical):AB Blood type
Person ID	i22	Strong Family Tree
Last Modified	9 Nov 2020

Father	Walter Winfield Strong, b. 10 May 1881, Farmersville, Collin County, Texas d. 4 Apr 1961, Gainesville, Cooke County, Texas (Age 79 years)
Mother	Terezie Rose "Tessie" Soukup, b. 4 Jun 1886, Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska d. 3 Jun 1916, Lawton, Comanche County, Oklahoma (Age 29 years)
Marriage	4 Aug 1907	Lawton, Comanche County, Oklahoma
	Married by Oliver R. Land, Minister of the first Congregational Church of Lawton, Comanche County, Oklahoma Territory. Witnesses were Harry Soukup and Mrs. S.G. Royl. She was listed as Tessa on the marriage license. Rhodene Frederick found the following burial records for Highland Cemetery in Lawton: Strong, Tessie R., b. 1886, d. Jun 3, 1916, 30y, NE-Frank Sankeans (sic) Strong, Walter W., b. 1881, d. Apr 4, 1961, 80y, TN-Ralph Strong
Family ID	F20	Group Sheet \| Family Chart

Family Homer Richard Strong, b. 29 Feb 1908, Junction City, Comanche County, Oklahoma d. 19 Sep 1990, Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma (Age 82 years)

Marriage 23 Feb 1932 Waurika, Jefferson County, Oklahoma

Marriage Record No. 10 Waurika, Jefferson County, Oklahoma Between H.R. Strong, age 23 of Duncan, Oklahoma and Anna Laura Payne age 18 of Duncan, Oklahoma. Married by J.H. Harper, County Judge in the presence of Geo. Taber of Waurika, Oklahoma and H.B. Longest of Waurika, Oklahoma

Children

	1. Charles Richard Strong, b. 24 Aug 1932, Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma d. 21 Oct 2021, McAllen, Hidalgo County, Texas (Age 89 years)
	2. William Robert Strong, b. 20 Feb 1934, Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma d. 4 Mar 2024, Yukon, Canadian County, Oklahoma (Age 90 years)
	3. John Ralph Strong, b. 16 Jun 1935, Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma d. 4 Apr 2022, Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma (Age 86 years)
	4. Mary Caroline Strong, b. 18 Mar 1939, Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma d. 5 Jan 2018, Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma (Age 78 years)
	5. Theresa Marie Strong, b. 25 Mar 1942, Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma d. 28 Jul 1995, Austin, Travis County, Texas (Age 53 years)
	6. Living
	7. Living

Documents

Payne, Anna Laura marriage to Homer Strong
Marriage license issued in Jefferson County, Oklahoma

Family ID F9 Group Sheet | Family Chart

Last Modified 9 Dec 2006

Event Map

	Birth - 29 Feb 1908 - Junction City, Comanche County, Oklahoma
	Marriage - 23 Feb 1932 - Waurika, Jefferson County, Oklahoma
	Death - 19 Sep 1990 - Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma
	Burial - 22 Sep 1990 - Duncan Municipal Cemetery, Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma

= Link to Google Earth

Photos » Slide Show		Strong, Walter Winfield ca 1909 with wife and son Walter Winfield Strong and Tessie Rose Soukup pose with their first born son, Homer
		Strong, Homer Richard ca 1910 Homer, the son of Walter Strong and Tessie Soukup, at age two. He was serving as the mascot of the Prague, Oklahoma Baseball team, circa 1910.
		Strong, Homer and Viola 1911 - 1913 The oldest of the five children born to Walter Winfield Strong and his wife, Tessie Rose Soukup. At the time this photo was taken, the family was probably still living in Prague, Oklahoma, where Walter worked as a barber.
		Strong, Ralph Brainerd Family ca.1913 Ralph Brainerd Strong Family circa 1913, Oklahoma Standing, Back row (L to R): UNKNOWN--Either Burt OR Claude Strong, Annie Eva (CHOATE) Strong, Lee S. Strong, Earnest Strong,Tessie Rose (SOUKUP) Strong, Walter Winfield Strong, Mary Gertrude (GAY) Strong, Augustus Homer Strong Seated, Front row (L to R): Homer Richard Strong (grandson), Ralph Brainerd Strong, Viola May Strong (granddaughter), Mary (STOCKBRIDGE) Strong (Second wife), Agnes Ivy Strong (granddaughter) Not pictured: Rolla or Earl PLEASE HELP US POSTIVELY IDENTIFY whether the young man standing on the left at the back is Burt or Claude!
		Strong, Walter Winfield ca 1916, with his children This photo of Walter and his children appears to have been taken after his wife, Tessie Soukup, died of kidney failure. The family was living in Southern Oklahoma at the time. From left to right, Viola, baby Jack, Homer, Walter and Barney Strong.
		Strong, Walter and Tessie (Soukup) Children This picture of Viola, Homer, Barney and baby Jack was taken in 1916, shortly after their mother, Tessie died.
		Strong, Viola Mae ca 1921, Cecil Lewis, Homer Strong, Roy West, and Barney Strong This picture of the blended family of Walter Strong and Stella Crouch was taken in 1921 in Bison, Oklahoma, shortly after their marriage. Pictured are Viola Strong, Cecil Lewis (Stella's son by her second marriage), Homer Strong, Roy West (Stella's son by her first marriage), and Barney Strong.
		Strong, Homer and Viola 1919 Homer and Viola in 1919
		Strong, Homer and Viola 1921 This picture of Homer and Viola was taken shortly after their father's second marriage. A picture of all the children in the newly blended family was taken that same day.
		Strong, Homer ca 1923-1925 with Barney and Viola (R to L) Several years after he remarried, Walter took his three children from Oklahoma to his father's home in New Mexico. Barney recalls that each time they passed a large cotton field, Walter would stop and offer their services. The money they earned paid not only for the expenses of the trip, but for the new clothes that the children were wearing in this photo. Barney said that this was the first pair of long pants that he ever owned. Barney and Homer lived for a time in New Mexico, but it is not known if it was at this time, or at a later date.
		Strong, Homer ca 1939 with wife, Anna Laura This appears to have been taken at the Coca-Cola bottling plant, where Homer was employed as a sign painter.
		Strong, Homer ca 1939 with sons Bill, John, and Charles Homer poses with his three oldest children around 1939 in Duncan, Oklahoma. The boys, from left to right, are Bill, John and Charles.
		Strong, Homer ca 1942 in Coca-Cola Uniform Homer was employed by Coca-Cola as a sign painter prior to be drafted into the Army during the Second World War
		Strong, Homer ca 1943 Homer was drafted in 1943, and helped train men at Fort Sill. He was discharged as a Sergeant First Class on March 15, 1949, and forever after was known by his nickname "Sarg." He was a Radio Repairman (Instructor), and eventually was in charge of the radio repair school at Fort Sill.
		Strong Men Go to War, 1941-1945 Cecil Lewis, Homer Strong, Barney Strong, and Robert Strong (left to right), sons of Walter Winfield Strong. As Cecil had already been drafted, he borrowed an extra uniform from Barney in order to be in the picture. As it turned out, health issues caused him to be classified as 4-F, so he was unable to join his brothers in the service. Jack Neill Strong was in the military, but was not in Oklahoma when the photo was taken. Some years later he had his image, superimposed beside those of his brothers. This is the original version of the photo, without him.
		Strong Men go to War, 1941-1945, with Jack Cecil Lewis, Homer Strong, Barney Strong, Robert Strong, and Jack Strong (left to right), sons of Walter Winfield Strong. As Cecil had already been drafted, he borrowed an extra uniform from Barney in order to be in the picture. As it turned out, health issues caused him to be classified as 4-F, so he was unable to join his brothers in the service. Jack Neill Strong was in the military, but was not in Oklahoma when the photo was taken. Some years later he had his image, on the far right, superimposed beside those of his brothers.
		Strong, Homer ca 1951 Homer Strong at work at Halliburton in Duncan in 1951. Homer was a sign painter for Halliburton, and also worked in their carpentry shop. This is from a xerox of the original photo, accounting for the marginal quality.
		Strong Family Home--located at 1806 Birch Street, Duncan, Oklahoma This is the home, at 1806 Birch, that Homer and Roonie moved into with their youngest children in 1952. They remained in this home for the rest of their lives.
		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
		Strong-Weaver-Lewis Reunion, Gainesville, Texas, March 1960 The Homer and Anna Laura Strong Family Seated, l to r, are Tommy, Anna Laura, P.D. and Homer Strong. This photo was one in a series of photos taken at a March, 1960, family reunion at the home of Viola Strong Weaver of Gainesville, Texas.
		McGuire, Patricia ca 1957 marriage to Charles Richard Strong, Stillwater, Oklahoma 5 of 10 The bride and groom with their parents, l to r, Keith McGuire, Jr, Kenneth Carpenter, Josephine Morlas McGuire Carpenter, the newly wed Pat and Charles Strong, Anna Laura Payne Strong, and Homer Strong
		Strong, Homer ca 1962 with family and friends On sofa, seated, L to R: Cecil Lewis, Bob Strong, Donald Joe Weaver, Homer Strong, Leroy Weaver, and Jack Strong. Standing behind Jack are Tommy Lewis (left) and Barney Strong. Seated on the floor is Charles Strong, and seated on a footstool to his right is his brother Bill. This picture was taken in the home of Homer and Anna Laura Strong in Duncan.
		Strong Siblings, Christmas, 1963 This picture, which appears to have been taken in the home of Viola Weaver of Gainesville, Texas. It was is one of the few times that all the Strong Siblings were together as adults. From Left to Right are Homer Strong, Cecil Lewis, Viola Weaver, Barney Strong, Jack Strong, and Bob Strong. They were all the children of Walter Winfield Strong.
		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
		Strong, Earl Everett and Family late 1960's This photo of Earl Everett Strong and some of his family was taken in California in the late 1960's, when Homer Strong came from Oklahoma for a visit. Top Row, L to R, his brothers Rolla and Homer, his wife Willie Jane (Jones), Earl Everett; Bottom Row, Sharon Strong (granddaughter) and Lee (son).
		Payne sisters with family r t l: Fay Payne Yeager, Homer Strong with wife Anna Laura Payne Strong, Lois Payne Hanna, Amos Kubik and wife
		Strong, Homer Richard ca 1970's Homer outside the Church of the Assumption in Duncan, Oklahoma
		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
		Strong, Homer ca 1985 with wife, Anna Laura Homer and Anna Laura Strong, Duncan, Oklahoma
		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
		Strong Family?--UNKNOWN This photo was found in a group of photos belonging to Homer and Anna Laura (Payne) STRONG of Duncan, Oklahoma. PLEASE HELP US INDENTIFY THESE WOMEN, BOTH CURRENTLY UNKNOWN.

Documents » Slide Show		Strong, Homer and Anna Laura (Payne) Children and Grandchildren. These school photos of each of Anna Laura and Homer's children and grandchildren hung on the walls of their home in Duncan for many years
		Strong, Homer Richard, Honorable Discharge from the United States Army Homer served as a radio repairman instructor at Fort Sill, Oklahoma for the Second Battalion, Field Artillery School, from November, 1943 through March, 1946
		Strong, Homer Richard, Honorable Discharge, Enlisted Record and Report of Separation, Page 1 Homer served as a radio repairman instructor at Fort Sill, Oklahoma for the Second Battalion, Field Artillery School, from November, 1943 through March, 1946
		Strong, Homer Richard, Honorable Discharge, Enlisted Record and Report of Separation, Page 2 Homer served as a radio repairman instructor at Fort Sill, Oklahoma for the Second Battalion, Field Artillery School, from November, 1943 through March, 1946
		Strong, Homer Richard, Halliburton Company Employee Badge Homer worked in the manufacturing department of Halliburton, which at that time was still headquartered in Duncan, Oklahoma
		Strong, Homer Richard, ca 1970's Homer supported his family as an artist before the Depression, developing a distinctive handwriting. He was also a avid amateur musician. This handwritten score of his, Yesterday by the Beatles, combined his love of both art and music.
		Strong, Homer Richard Death Certificate from the State of Oklahoma
		Strong, Homer Richard ca 1990, Funeral Memorium Funeral Memorium from the Don Grantham Funeral Home in Duncan, Oklahoma
		Strong, Thomas Anthony ca 2002, Certificate-yDNA, R1B1 yDNA sample 12 marker results. Tom was one of the early participants in the Strong yDNA study, shortly afterwords several proven descendants of Elder John Strong of New England were exact matches to him, allowing him to focus his search for his American Strong ancestors http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~donegalstrongs/dnaresults.htm

Headstones		Strong, Homer and Anna Laura (Payne) Homer always celebrated his birthday on March 1, which is reflected on his headstone. His actual date of birth however was on Leap Year Day, February 29, 1908.
Headstones		Strong, Homer Richard The month and date of birth engraved on this footstone are not correct

Sources
[S389] State of Oklahoma, Department of Health, Certificate of Death.

[S443] U.S. Army, Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge, Strong, Homer R.