Marlene Strickland Trotter (85) of Grand Island, Florida, was born on April 4, 1938 in Wildwood, FL to Lois Elizabeth Hunt and Chester Grady Strickland.  She has been married to Jere Trotter for the last 6 years.  The two of them have enjoyed wonderful adventures together including visiting Dubai, zip-lining, and riding a camel.

She is preceded in death by her brother Chester (Joan) Strickland, her son Greg Carpenter and her stepdaughter Terri Paul.

She is survived by her brother Ronnie (Cecelia) Strickland; children Teena McKay and Danny Carpenter and stepchildren Tonita (Greg) Cox, Tammie (Gene) Solano, Greg (Tammy) Trotter, Jim (Rachel) Trotter, a Godchild Johnnie Coley, 13 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, 4 great-great-grandchildren.

Marlene has been a faithful member of the church of Christ since the age of 9 and loved teaching anyone who wanted to hear of her joy in the Lord.  She graduated from the Christian Home and Bible School in Mount Dora in 1957.  In the 60's and 70's she worked as a bookkeeper for Silver Spring Citrus in Ocoee.  In the 80's she moved to Marion NC and pursued a career in nursing.  After retiring as house supervisor from what is now Advent Health Hendersonville, she moved back to Florida to care for her aged mother.  Marlene's favorite things were her family, teaching, travel, fishing, shopping and singing.  She especially enjoyed the Diana singing in Tennessee every year.

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, Febuary 3rd. 2024 , 10 am at Wildwood Church of Christ, 114 Cleveland Ave, Wildwood, FL 34785