Lyndell celebrates 95th birthday

A big crowd gathered at the Ozark County Historium Monday afternoon to help Lyndell Strong celebrate her 95th birthday. It was supposed to be a surprise, said her daughter Jerri Sue Crawford, “but she said she knew something was up.” A lifelong resident of Ozark County and daughter of Earl and Roxie Farel, Lyndell graduated from Bakersfield High School in 1945. She moved to Gainesville after graduation, worked at Bug’s Cafe, met Utah Strong and married him two months later – three days after her Aug. 23 birthday. The couple had three children – Joe, Jack and Jerri Sue. Utah passed away in 1991. Lyndell retired from the United States Postal Service after 30 years, serving the last several as Gainesville Postmaster. She quickly got bored with retirement though and took a job as Gainesville city clerk, which she held for several years. Lyndell also served in a wide range of community activities including serving on the Ozark County Health Department board,  the board of the Missouri Ozarks Community Health Clinics in Ava and Gainesville, Gainesville city council and the Gainesville Lions Club. Lyndell stepped down from her public duties a few years ago and now lives in an apartment in Mountain Home, Arkansas, but you can find her every Monday, eating lunch with her friends and family at the Gainesville Sale Barn cafe.