Bob and
Nancy Strait have managed to give back to their community even after they have both died.
The couple was assaulted in their own home in March.
Nancy died from her injuries the day after the attack. Bob was beaten and shot in the jaw with a BB gun.
He died on Friday, May 4th.
Their neighbors have given the family a lot of support through this terrible tragedy.
Charles Wheeler got a call from his neighbor’s children, telling him they had some toys they wanted to give to his young kids but these weren’t ordinary toys.
“At first I just thought there were just some old toys lying around the house, and then when I seen these toys it touched the bottom of heart,” said Wheeler.
The toys were hand carved from wood. It was a passion of Bob Strait’s. He gave them a battle ship, an airplane, and a rocking horse. The Strait childrens' only request was that Wheeler’s kids paint them.
“It touched my heart so much,” said Wheeler. “Especially that a man spent so much time and passion doing this and didn't keep it for himself or his family he passed it out to the community.”
Bob Strait’s son, also named Bob, explained his father was a tinkerer and would build and fix anything. He made hundreds of toys and furniture with his woodcarving skills.
“I have a rocking horse for my daughter, who is a medic now in the Army, we painted it when she was two,” said Strait. “It's up in the attic now. She will give it to her kids.”
He said his dad took pride in giving away the toys to his kids and his grandchildren. Making people smile was something he took seriously.
If you would like to make a donation to the Straits, a fund for them has been set up at Arvest Bank.
