Remembering Annie Strickling

It has been nearly 13 years since I taught communication arts at East Middle School and during that time I've never looked through the hundreds of photos my Journalism Club students took during my time at East Middle School.

Until today.

While many of the photos brought back wonderful times during our adventure holding school in a warehouse on the far eastern edge of the district (and next to an extremely aromatic dogfood factory), the smiles those photos brought were short-lived because of the reason for my trip down memory lane.

I was in search of an eighth grader named Annie Strickling, a girl who always brought joy to the classroom even on the most trying days.

The first photo I came across, one that accompanies this post, showed her painting, something she loved. She was 14 years old and already at the halfway point of her life.

I never knew Annie was an art teacher and was working at RISE Elementary in Neosho until I read her obituary yesterday.

It didn't surprise me. She loved art and she loved people.

And people loved her.

That's evident from the outpouring of grief after the news of her death at age 28 Sunday spread. Many times people will make a quick "rest in peace" comment on social media or say "how sad' it is that someone has passed.

When it came to Annie, those expressions were simply not enough. 

Dozens of people took the time to write heartfelt remembrances of the young woman they knew in high school or college or the teacher who taught their children.

One mother shared a photo Annie sent her which showed the woman's child resting by a tree. Annie said she thought the mother might like the photo and said, "I just love her."

She loved all of her children and told them so every day.

"I love you and I'll see you tomorrow," she said everyday without fail.

Hugs and smiles were the currency in Annie Strickling's classroom ... and she had a never-ending supply.

(Top photo from Neosho RISE Elementary Facebook Page)