of McRae, AR

March 12, 1930 - September 4, 2023

On September 4, 2023, Vela Lee (Stracener) Strayhorn left this earth at the age of 93, to be with her Lord and Savior in Heaven.

Born in Floyd, AR on March 12, 1930 she lived in the Floyd and Gravel Hill area until she married Clarence Strayhorn on May 26, 1952. After living in Ft Smith, AR for a short time while Clarence completed his time in the Army, they moved to the 16th Section Community and within a year had built the house and home where she was living when The Good Lord called her home.

Vela was preceded in death by her husband of 71 years Clarence Strayhorn; her parents, James and Lottie Stracener; brother, Marvin Stracener; sister-in-law, Nell Stracener; daughter-in-law, Josephine (Jo) Tice Strayhorn and nephew, Stan Stracener.

She leaves behind her favorite son (only child), Randy Strayhorn and his wife, Dianna; 3 grandsons, Nathan Strayhorn and wife, Jordan (a granddaughter at heart), Alex Strayhorn and Mister Alex Wong; a granddaughter, Sara Smith Cooper and her husband (basically another grandson), Corey Cooper; a great grandson, Wilder Ray Strayhorn and 3 great granddaughters, Ava Cooper, Adelyne Cooper and Josephine (Josie) Strayhorn.

Vela was proud to be recognized as a founding member of The Sixteenth Section Union Church on Highway 267 near McRae, where she served in many capacities for many years and where she loved to teach children in Sunday School.

Vela loved to raise flowers and enjoyed sharing them with all her friends. She said she loved working in the garden and flowers because it was a good time and place to be close and talk to God. While she shared her flowers she also loved sharing her Faith and Trust in her Savior Jesus.

Vela loved going fishing with Clarence, Randy and the grandsons and would fish all day, catching any or not, but she would never eat a fish, ''They Stink!''.

Vela was a loving and dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt and friend.
She was known as ''Aunt Vela'' or ''Granny'' to many and she tried to feed and spoil all of them with her fresh vegetables, country cooked meals, chocolate gravy, chocolate pies and fried pies.

Memorials may be made in Vela's name directly to:
The 16th Section Union Church and/or Weir Cemetery
Mail either/both to: ℅ Jimmie Merriman, 3491 Hwy 267 S, Beebe, AR 72012
-or- directly to Gideons International: https://www.gideons.org/

Visitation on Saturday, September 9, 2023 from 9:30-10 AM at Roller-Daniel Funeral Home Chapel on Race St in Searcy immediately followed by the Celebration of Life Services at 10:00 AM.

Interment will follow in the Weir Cemetery.

Special Thanks to her Caregivers Peggy Duncan and Ariel Hacker. She loved you both. You know why The Lord allowed her to stay on this earth as long as she did.

Obituary Provided By:
Roller-Daniel Funeral Home
411 East Race Avenue
Searcy, AR  72145
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com