Dr. Ernest Ray “Doc” Stricklin, 89, of Festus died March 7, 2022, at Mercy Hospital St. Louis in Creve Coeur. Dr. Stricklin opened the Twin City Animal Hospital in 1973 and was a practicing veterinarian until his death. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard and was a charter member of Faith Baptist Church in Festus. He served as official veterinarian for the Jefferson County Fair, the county Horse Shows, the county rodeos and the Professional Bull Riders Association. He also was a hobby horseman, raising and showing walking horses and foxtrotting horses, including a World Champion foxtrotting stallion. He received many high-point trophies in local horse shows and with the Missouri Western Horse Show Association. Born May 3, 1932, in Banner, he was the son of the late Mollie Virginia (Keasling) and Ernest E. Stricklin. He was preceded in death by his wife, Margie Lee (Whitner) Stricklin.
He is survived by a son: E. Edward Stricklin of Pevely; a daughter: Martha S. (the late John) Preston of Orlando, Fla.; four grandchildren: Chastity (Dave) Propst of Festus, Merissa (Tim) Whitehead of Festus, Chad (Tiara) Stricklin of Pevely and Jennifer (Nick) Morrow of Orlando, Fla.; 10 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and two nieces: Debby (Marshall) Macelroy of Granite City, Ill., and Connie (Robert) Poteet of St. Louis. He was preceded in death by three sisters: Clara Virginia Wilkins, Gladys Ruth Henson and Vivian Elizabeth Talmage.
Visitation is scheduled from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, March 10, at Vinyard Funeral Home, 616 W. Main St., in Festus. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, March 11, at the funeral home, officiated by the Rev. John Weaver. Burial is in the Barber-Whitner Cemetery in Twelve Mile. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or to Shriner’s Hospital for Children in St. Louis. Arrangements are under the direction of Vinyard Funeral Home.