Melva June Strate

Melva June Strate passed from this life on July 3, 2023, at the age of 84 in Cleveland, Oklahoma.

June was born on December 16, 1938, in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, the daughter of George J. and Fannie Marie (Harrison) Lickliter. June grew up and attended school in Hominy graduating with the Class of 1956. During her time in school June was active in basketball, pep squad and drama club. She was also very active in the speech club, winning many awards. June and Homer started dating their freshman year of High School and on February 1, 1957, she was united in marriage to her High School sweetheart, Homer F. Strate in Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Private Homer Strate was soon stationed in Germany and June returned to Hominy and began working as Page for First National Bank in Tulsa. Due to Homer’s career in the military, they moved frequently and lived in numerous places.

June worked several jobs throughout her life with being a homemaker her priority. Some of them include waitressing, telephone operator at the Hominy phone office, Munsingwear, police dispatcher in Lawton, Oklahoma, home health aide, and her favorite job was when she volunteered at Hillcrest Hospital in the maternity ward and gift shop. In January of 1980, June and Homer established their home in Hominy before moving to Cleveland in 2010.

June enjoyed reading and crocheting. She and Mona, her sister-in-law, spent many hours and days going to garage sales and auctions and searching for that diamond in the rough. One of her favorite places to visit was Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah where June and Homer spent several weeks. In the 1990’s June and Homer began over the road team driving. This allowed them to spend many hours sightseeing the country. June has been a lifetime member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She held many callings with primary/nursery being her favorites. June “Grandma June” was loved by everyone. She was very generous, kind and loved everyone she met.

Survivors are her husband Homer of the home, four children Homer F. Strate, Jr. (Frank) and his wife Joylyn of Florida, Terri Ann Hicks and her husband Michael of Sand Springs, Oklahoma, Richard Strate of Cushing, Oklahoma, Jo Lynn Strate of Cleveland, Oklahoma; three siblings Phillip Lickliter of Hominy, Oklahoma, Patrick Lickliter and his wife Shirley of Biloxi, Mississippi, Kathy Stotts and her husband Terry of Prue, Oklahoma, four grandchildren Becky May, Lisa May, Jennifer Dailey, Kevin Strate, eight great grandchildren Derek, Tynslee, Drayden, Bentley, Tylen, Olivia, Addison and Anthony as well as a host of other relatives and friends. In addition to her parents June was preceded in death by her brother Stephen Lickliter, sister-in-law Mona Lickliter, niece Karen Wiesler and great grandson Dylan May.

Private family services will be held at a later date in the A.J. Powell Memorial Cemetery in Hominy, Oklahoma. Chapman-Black Funeral Home will be handling the arrangements. Friends and family may visit an online guest book and memorial page for June at www.chapman-black.com.

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