Imogene Strain Obituary

Devoted Wife, Lifelong Educator, and Master Gardener
Imogene Martin Strain, a lifelong resident of Newton County, passed away surrounded by her family and the land she loved so dearly. She was married for 45 years to the love of her life, James Harvey Strain III, with whom she built a life rooted in devotion, nature, and community. She was 89 years old.
A proud 1955 graduate of Western Grove High School, Imogene went on to earn her bachelor's degree from Arkansas Tech University and her master's degree from the University of Central Arkansas. She returned to her hometown to give back, spending her entire teaching career at Western Grove Public Schools. As a beloved primary teacher, she shaped the minds and hearts of hundreds of children who passed through her classroom, many of whom still recall her kindness, wisdom, and steady presence.
Imogene had a remarkable gift for growing things. A prolific gardener, she filled the landscape of her home with flowers, trees, and plants that she lovingly nurtured. Her green thumb extended far beyond her own yard. She joyfully shared cuttings and plants with friends and neighbors so that others, too, could experience the beauty of a blooming garden. For decades, she and Jim raised honeybees, contributing to the health of their farm's ecosystem. Her front porch, lined with hummingbird feeders, and the purple martin houses they prepared each spring were small reflections of her reverence for the natural world.
She also had a love for quiet pastimes, especially a good game of cards. A formidable bridge player, she delighted in both the game and the company it brought. Her artistic talent was evident in the landscape paintings that fill the walls of her home-each one capturing the farm, the Buffalo River, and the natural beauty that surrounded her and inspired her soul.
Above all, Imogene's life was defined by the unquestioned and all-consuming love she had for her children, 10 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren. Every table, desk, and shelf in her home overflowed with photographs-milestone moments lovingly framed and displayed like a living timeline of the family she adored. Her pride in each of them was boundless, and she never missed a chance to share their stories, achievements, or laughter. Family was not just a part of her life, it was the very center of it.
Imogene is survived by her husband, Jim; her children, Diana Cutbirth (Dwight) of Fayetteville, Tony White (Debbie) of Bergman, Kelle Stanley, and Kayla Strain Hale (John) of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Scott Strain (Laura Leiber) of Regensberg, Germany. She also leaves behind a daughter of choice, Mescal McCollum (Ray) of Marble Falls. Her love, generosity, and deep connection to the land will live on in the lives of those she touched and the beauty she cultivated.
The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, July 11, 2025, at the Western Grove Cemetery Chapel with Bro. Dennis Sisco officiating. Burial will be in Western Grove Cemetery under the direction of Holt Memorial Chapel.
Pallbearers will be Cody and David White, Josh Still, Ryan Burnett, Connor Acebo, and Dwight Cutbirth.
Memorials may be made to the Western Grove Cemetery, Post Office Box 113, Western Grove, Arkansas 72685.
The online obituary and guestbook are available at www.HoltChapel.com.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Imogene, please visit our floral store.