Patricia "Patty" A. Strickland

Patricia “Patty” Ann Strickland, 70, of McPherson, Kansas, peacefully passed away and moved to her Heavenly home on Thursday, March 26, 2026, with her daughter by her side at McPherson Health & Rehab. Patty was a cherished mother, devoted grandmother, loyal sister, aunt, and friend. Patty lived a life marked equally by compassionate kindness towards others and a resolute stubbornness in what she believed. She demonstrated grit, fortitude, and a fierce love for her family that was evident in her willingness to do anything that she deemed would care well for them.

Early Life: Patty was born on Friday, January 27, 1956, at her family farmhouse near Kanopolis, Kansas. Patty is the daughter of Francis John and Edmae Mary (Bachand) Urbanek. She was the youngest of six children, with three older sisters and two older brothers. Patty attended Buckeye Grade School until the family moved to McPherson, Kansas in 1966, after which she attended St. Joseph’s Catholic School. Growing up, Patty loved being a catcher while playing baseball in the summers.

Family Life: On May 12, 1982, Patty was united in marriage to Charles “Chuck” Earl Strickland, III, in Jefferson County, Colorado. Chuck preceded her in death on June 4, 2019. Three years after marrying and having moved back to McPherson, Kansas, the couple welcomed a son, Justin Charles, in 1985, and a daughter, Sarah Marie, in 1987. Patty was a dedicated and selfless mother who always found a way to make sure her children had all they needed and then some. Patty was especially good at supporting her children in their unique and varied interests, such as cheering Justin and Sarah on in their BMX racing competitions. Patty was an active member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and sent her children to catholic school for their early education. Patty was another “mom” to nearly all her children’s friends and the neighborhood kids as well. She had an uncanny ability to make children feel seen, meeting them at their level, and letting them know they mattered and were loved. Patty eventually became the proud grandmother of 5 beloved grandchildren, including four grandsons and one granddaughter. Patty loved nothing more than having her grandchildren over to play at her house when they were little, or, as they grew, going and watching their various sporting events, including Taekwondo, baseball, basketball, cross country, track, and football. Patty took great pride in the achievements and accomplishments of her children and grandchildren. Despite the personal challenges she faced over the years, as she was able Patty demonstrated a continued willingness to do whatever the grandkids wanted her to do, from riding bikes, to playing catch, to playing on the playground, to providing a place of respite in trying times. Following the passing of her husband, Chuck, Patty especially enjoyed a family trip back to Colorado in 2019 with her two children, their spouses, and the three grandchildren she had at the time. She waded in the river, navigated the mountains, and rode amusement park rides with the family.

Work Life and Hobbies: Patty had a wide and varied work life over the years. She was flexible and willing to do whatever was needed to take care of her family. She worked in the food service and retail industries and in factory work. She held various positions as a truck driver, in-home daycare provider, florist, and school bus driver. Her favorite positions included being able to utilize her creativity while designing floral arrangements at the flower shop and making impactful connections with the children she transported as a school bus driver. Patty was a proficient cook who enjoyed making meals from scratch. She had that special ability to recreate dishes without needing to refer to a recipe. However, to the disappointment of her family around the dinner table, the deliciousness of a main course was lost, on more than one occasion, to the tricky practice of multitasking while cooking. Thus, a dish was served a little crispier, tougher, or blacker than originally intended! Patty’s talents extended beyond the kitchen. She was a natural green thumb and grew gardens of flowers and/or vegetables outdoors at all the locations she called home over the years. Patty always kept a thriving variety of indoor house plants as well. Her daughter often called to get help diagnosing and treating the symptoms of her own ailing indoor or outdoor plants, and Patty and her son, who was an arborist by trade, had many conversations about the state of the trees in Patty’s yards, sometimes disagreeing on what was best for the tree. Patty’s attentive care went beyond plants, as well known by her cats. Her former cat, Keko became quite the spoiled princess in Patty’s care. After Keko, Snowball and Coco were Patty’s current feline friends at the time of her passing. When she wasn’t cooking or tending to plants and cats, Patty enjoyed creating unique cement steppingstones for garden décor, sewing quilts and crocheting blankets, and playing cards. Playing Pinochle or Pitch is a beloved family pastime, and everyone knew Aunt Patty to be a fierce competitor, which at times made her a bit flexible with the rules for the sake of the win!

Legacy and Remembrance: Patty leaves behind a legacy of perseverance and strength. She touched the lives of many people from a variety of walks of life. Patty’s resolute stubbornness was a formative adversary against cancer that began in 2017. Patty spent the majority of the next decade relentlessly battling against cancer in various forms to stay alive for the sake of her family. Patty is survived by her daughter, Sarah Mills (Zach) of McPherson, Kansas; daughter-in-law, Tiffany Strickland of Valley Center, Kansas; siblings, John Urbanek (Sally) of Quenemo, Kansas, Joe Urbanek of Vassar, Kansas, Francine Young (Bill) of Salado, Texas, Jeanne Kail (Steve) of McPherson, Kansas, and Betty Palmquist (Steve) of Lindsborg, Kansas; five grandchildren, Jaiden Strickland, Ebbett Mills, Crosley Mills, Adelaide Strickland, and August Strickland; and many extended relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Francis and Edmae Urbanek; husband, Chuck Strickland; son, Justin Strickland; and nephews, Jeremy Kail, Shawn Kail, and Joey Urbanek.

The family will receive friends from 5:30 PM until 6:30 PM, Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Stockham Family Funeral Home, with Rosary to follow at 6:30 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM, Friday, April 10, 2026, at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Fr. Michael Kerschen officiating. A graveside service will be held at 2:00 PM, Friday, April 10, 2026, at Ellsworth Memorial Cemetery (Ellsworth, KS).

Memorial donations are suggested to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or St. Joseph Catholic Church in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 North Chestnut, McPherson, KS 67460.

May we take solace in the many beautiful memories we shared with Patty and the knowledge that she is now restored to her creator and free of pain and suffering, and most of all, in our living hope of Jesus Christ, that through Him, we say not “goodbye” to Patty, but “until we meet again” one day in Heaven.