Mrs. LURIE MAE RADFORD, age 92, passed away on July 7, 2007, at North Florida Regional Hospital in Gainesville, Florida. Mrs. Radford was born in Ozark, Alabama, on May 11, 1915, to Franklin Andrew and Jeannie Lou Strickland. She was raised in Defuniak Springs, Florida, and wed Fate Angus Radford on September 27, 1931. They were married for 58 years before he passed away.

During World War II, she was certified as an Air Corps Mechanic and worked as an electric welder for the Atomic Energy Commission on the Manhattan Project at Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Mrs. Radford and her husband moved to Gainesville, Florida, in 1948, and she started work at the University of Florida as a Lab Technician in the Paper Lab. In 1950, Mrs. Radford opened her own retail store selling evening gowns and wedding dresses she designed. In 1953 she started work as a Buyer for Ready to Wear and Sportswear departments at Wilson's Department Store and retired in 1976. In 1968, she was contacted by the Editorial Board of Marquis Who's Who in America for inclusion Who's Who of American Women. She was a licensed Real Estate Broker.

Mrs. Radford was a lifetime member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Gainesville Chapter No.44 and a member of the First Baptist Church. In 1969 she served as Publicity Chairman for the ABWA. Mrs. Radford was also a member of the Republican Executive Committee, a member of the Federated Women's Republican Club, and Director of the Republican Headquarters during the 1984 presidential campaign.

Mrs. Radford is survived by two daughters, Faye Radford Ward, of Lakeland, Florida, and Foye Radford Gillis, of Gainesville, Florida; one son, Roy Angus Radford, of Ormond Beach, Florida; one sister, Eloise Strickland Farmer Simmons, of Milton, Florida; one brother, Aaron Strickland, of Defuniak Springs, Florida; 17 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, Franklin Andrew and Jeannie Lou Strickland; two sisters, Ruby Jones and Myrtle Vaughan; and five brothers, Silas, David, Mixon, Arnold and F.A., Jr.

Services were held at 2:00pm, Wednesday, July 11, 2007, Forest Meadows Funeral Home Chapel, 725 NW 23rd Ave, Gainesville, Florida.

Burial followed at Forest Meadows Memorial Park Central, 4100 NW 39th Ave, Gainesville, Florida.

Visitation was held from 6:00 to 8:00pm, Tuesday, July 10, 2007, at Forest Meadows Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, donations were suggested to be made to the First Baptist Church of Gainesville Building Funds.

Arrangements were under the care of FOREST MEADOWS FUNERAL HOME, CEMETERIES & CREMATORY.

Published in the Gainesville Sun from 7/9/2007 - 7/11/2007.

===================================

GUEST BOOK:

*****
As a young twenty-year old woman, I worked at Wilson's department store and your mother became a friend as I did much sewing. At age 21 when I went to New York to study design, Lurie and LaVern Searcy, the fabric buyer, took the train to New York for the store's buying trips. They always contacted me and took me to dinner. I always looked forward to their next buying trip. Their twice-a-year trips were my connection to "back home." Each trip back to Gainesville to be with family included at visit to Wilson's to visit with Lurie. I am only now learning of her interesting "Rosie the Riveter" service during WWII. I remember her stoic "can do" spirit.

Roy, we were in the same GHS class of 1957. All of you have great memories and stories of your mother to share with the all the succeeding generations. I am glad to have known your mother; she was a wonderful lady.

Roz Miller
Rosalyn Miller (Gainesville, FL)

===================================

Aunt Lurie once commented that her mother did not attend her wedding to Fate. She gave no explanation, such as if her mother did not approve or could not make it for some other reason, just made that comment. MMS