Doris June (Flanagan) Strang

 Doris June Flanagan Strang, 93, of Hernando, formerly of Tarpon Springs, passed away on January 15, 2022. She was born on November 29 1928, in Tarpon Springs. She graduated from Tarpon Springs High School and married John Richard Strang on December 1, 1946.  She worked at North Ward Elementary School in Clearwater as the office secretary for 25 years. After retiring she and her husband (known as Papa) sold their home in Clearwater to split their time between the Lake house in Hernando and the mountain house in Franklin NC. It was just a few years ago that she sold the NC house and moved full time back to Florida. She is survived by two daughters, Annette Good and Karen Benoit; six grandchildren, Shawna, twin boys, Jeremiah & Joshua, Jessica, Kristen and Danny; twelve great grandchildren, Victoria, Allyssa, Gabriella, Tristan, Levi, Ireland, Olivia, Gavin, Felicity, Desiree, Ethan and Lincoln Ryann Kay;  and her very first great great grandson, Carson Reed. She loved getting text messages and pictures from her grandkids. She said she felt like she was right there with them YES, she texted at age 93. She couldn't believe how technology has changed over the years.

Nonie, as we all called her was an avid gardener. She always had a beautiful lawn no matter where she lived with steppingstones from the creeks of North Carolina, carrying them down the mountain herself. Bromeliads, stag-horns and many other beautiful plants were always perfectly placed around her lawn. She loved to share her plants with us to replant in our yards. She loved receiving bouquets of flowers watching them bloom and open every day until the petals fell. Flowers made her happy.
She enjoyed living on the lake and watching the fisherman come and go.  When they stayed out to long, she worried about them and told them so when they came back in. She never turned down a boat ride. If she was invited, she was going. 
She loved to do her daily crossword puzzles (with a pen, mind you) and became very upset if the newspaper was late not to mention if it skipped her altogether that day. Jig saw Puzzles, Scrabble, Bingo, solitaire and Dominoes were her favorite. She was very competitive. She didn't like to lose.  For those of you that have played Dominoes with Nonie, you know she plays a serious game. (Penny on Penny off)
Nonie was very very independent, strong willed and determined to remain that way.  She cooked her own meals, paid her own bills and still drove close to home. If it wasn't for Covid she'd still be driving to Walmart.  That was a blessing in disguise. She drove herself to the hair salon just last week. She always said her hair was her crown of glory.
 
A couple of funny stories: a few years ago, Dan and Karen left for a 6-week cross country trip.  She knew the family didn't want her making the drive to NC alone anymore, so she packed herself up and waited for them to leave. She loaded the car and took off to her mountain house, driving straight through stopping only for gas.
The last little prank she would have loved to do: While at the hospital, just days before she passed away, she told the doctor "I'm just going to go home, and I'll come back tomorrow" And she would have if she could have.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00, on Thursday, January 27, at the First United Methodist Church, Tarpon Springs. Inurnment will take place at Cycadia Cemetery.

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