Harry E. Strong

Harry E. "Corky" Strong, Jr., 74, of Du Quoin, passed away at 5:45 P.M., Saturday, April 5, 2003 at the Pinckneyville Community Hospital in Pinckneyville.
Corky was the retired owner of Cater-Vend in Du Quoin.  Before that, he was a manager with the Midwest Dairy from 1950 to 1966.  He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Du Quoin, the Du Quoin Elks and American Legion.  He was a U.S. Air Force First Lieutenant veteran.
He was born June 25, 1928 at Murphysboro, Illinois, the son of Harry E. and Emma (Wells) Strong, Sr.
He married Joe Ann Borgsmiller on June 17, 1950 at Murphysboro, Illinois and she survives.
He is survived by his wife of Du Quoin, daughter-Janet McCurdy and husband Charles of Du Quoin, son-Harry Strong, III and wife Sylvia of Dove Canyon, California, daughter-Cynthia Heape and husband John of Tamaroa, Illinois, daughter-Patricia Aue and husband Shawn of Du Quoin, son-Joseph Strong and wife Candace of Cambria, Illinois, daughter-Ann Paxton and husband Lindon of Du Quoin, daughter-Susan Johnson and husband Kenneth of Newton, Illinois, grandchildren-Heather McCurdy, Sarah Strong, Sloane Strong, Kendra Otto, Kara Otto, Ryan (Nicole) Heape, Seth Heape, Kirsten Aue, Codey Strong, Corey Strong, Blake Paxton, Kyle Paxton, Meredith Johnson, Olivia Johnson, and great-grandchildren-Braden Heape, Joshua Heape, Colin Williams and Antonio Graciani.  He is also survived by three nieces - Suda Lazzara of La Mesa, California, Mimi Thornton House, and Christy Marentay of Pasadena, California.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and a sister and brother-in-law - Betty Jean and Wiley Jackson House.
Funeral services were at 11:00 A.M., Thursday, April 10, 2003 at the First United Methodist Church in Du Quoin with Rev. Carl Mesiti and Msgr. Harry Jerome officiating.
Friends called from 5 to 8 P.M., Wednesday at the Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin.  Friends may call from 10:00 A.M. until 11:00 A.M. Thursday at the First United Methodist Church.
Interment was in the Sacred Heart Cemetery at Du Quoin.
Military gravesite rites were conducted by the Du Quoin American Legion Post.
Friends may make memorials to the Du Quoin Band Boosters Association, the Speech and Drama Department of the Du Quoin High School, or the Du Quoin Youth Club.
