Bill Strickland was born in Fortune on September 24, 1946; he was the eldest son of the late William and Mary (Thornhill) Strickland. Bill graduated High School in Fortune NL in 1962; he enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1966 for a 3 year term. He married his first wife Daphne in 1968 and had two children; Shayne in 1970 and Tanis in 1973. Bill worked at Booth Fisheries in Grand Bank, NL that took him out to sea and away from family longs periods of time. He moved to Labrador City in 1974-1980 where he was employed at IOCC. In 1981, he moved to Elliot Lake, ON where he was employed at Dennison Mines and this is where he met the love of his life Karen. Bill and Karen were married July, 1987 in Warren, ON. In 1985, they moved to Sussex where he was employed at Potacan Mining Company in Cassidy Lake. In 1994, Bill had a stroke which ended his career there but did not stop him, he was a an active member and former past president of the Royal Canadian Legion Sussex Branch #20 for two terms one in 1997 and the other in 2001, he loved life, his family, spoiling his grandchildren and his many friends. Bill will live on in the hearts of Karen his beloved wife of 23 years, his daughter Tanis Otis and her husband Paul of Parlee Brook; his sons: Shayne Strickland (Amanda Vallee) of Edmonton, AB, Jeremie Eden of Oromocto; his brothers: Lloyd Strickland and his wife Dale of Castleton, ON and John Lake and his wife Hannah of Toronto, ON; his sisters: Judy Clarke and her husband Ken of Cornwall, PE, Elsie Piercy and her husband Harvey of Bay Roberts, NFLD, Abbie Earle and her husband Bill of Bay Roberts, NFLD, Gertrude Steele and her husband Jim of Musgrave Harbour, NFLD, Isabelle Powell of Bay Roberts, NFLD and Shirley Crocker and her husband Levie of Fortune, NFLD; his sister in law, Cathy Lake of Toronto, ON; his three grandchildren: Chad Strickland, Kimberly Otis and Gregory Otis; several nieces and nephews; as well as life long friends: Daphne Mosher and her husband Mike and their son Michael of Cole Harbour, NS; Ethel Hillier of Grand Bank and Gerry Kyte and her husband Bill of Sussex. Bill was predeceased by his brother, Earl Lake and his brother in law Herb Powell. Mr. William George Strickland of Parlee Brook, passed away at the Saint John Regional Hospital on May 25, 2011 at the age of 64. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Wallace Funeral Home, 34 Sunnyside Drive, Sussex, (506-433-1176). Visitation will be held at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #20 in Sussex on Friday from 1-3pm. The Royal Canadian Legion Sussex Branch # 20 will hold a tribute at 3:15pm. As an expression of sympathy donations made to the memorial of the donor's choice would be appreciated by the family.