James Nickless Strayer, 82 years old, passed away on Wednesday, January 15, 2025. He was born on October 11, 1942 in Ohio to the late Levi R & Emma L (Fey) Stryer.
Pops was a very quiet man who kept to himself the majority of his life. He was stubborn, had a unique sense of humor, and several quirky mannerisms that some found odd and others found endearing. He never knew his father, Levi R. Strayer, as he was KIA in WWII in South Africa (1943) when Pops was only 6 months old. His mother Emma L. (Fey) Strayer never remarried nor did she ever have any more children, her Jimmy was her life. Sadly, she passed away in 1987.
Pops spent his younger part of life working in a meat packing plant and his later years as night time custodian for Cracker Barrel in Fairlawn, Ohio from which he retired. Pops had an amazing work ethic and very seldom did he miss work, it was just something he didn’t believe in. He was also an extremely charitable man.
In 1985 Pops met the love of his life, Janet E. (Senyeri) Strayer. In time they moved to Alabama (2015) to be closer to their children. They were together for 37 years, being married (2001) for 21 of those before cancer took his beloved May 9, 2022. Pops and Momma never had any children together, Pops instead inherited a ready made family of 7 children.
Although he never legally adopted any of the children, he gave them more love and support than you could ever imagine. We are his (step)children, but I like to think of it as legacy of love: Son Ron Senyeri and Daughter in love Michelle Senyeri of Falkville, AL; preceded in death by Son Donald Senyeri (1987); Daughter Martha Hartley and Son in law Frank Hartley of Barberton, OH; Daughter Victoria Wright and Partner Boyd Woodword of Fultondale, AL; Daughter Ursula McAtee of Madison, AL; Daughter Katherine Griffin and Son in Law Michael Griffin of Huntsville, AL; and favorite Daughter Joy Bohaychyk and Son in Law Nick Bohaychyk of Hazel Green, AL. As well as 15 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. Godspeed Pops, I’ll keep up with the mail for you. We love you.
Hazel Green Funeral Home is honored to serve the family.
