Lonny Wayne Strain

Lonny Wayne Strain
Born March 6, 1959
Passed December 25, 2018

Lonny was born in Blue Island, Illinois on March 6, 1959, and returned his spirit to the Jemez Mountains on December 25, 2018.  After a short time in California, and then Albuquerque, the Strain family moved to Jemez Springs where Lonny found his place.  Always up for a fishing, camping, or hunting trip, Lonny explored the Jemez for the rest of his life.  He built cabins of rock and log, searched for drop horns and ancient ruins, hunted bugling elk and fished for the elusive brown trout. 
Early in his career, Lonny moved to Grants, NM to work in the Uranium mines.  He then found work in the oilfields of the Permian Basin down around Hobbs, NM.  Perfecting his skills as a derrick man, he returned to the Jemez and worked on the geothermal rigs, first in Redondo Canyon on the Baca and then on Fenton Hill.  Asked why he liked working so high off the ground, he said “you can’t beat the view”.  Lonny was one that could build or do anything.  He crafted his own log cabin using only hand tools, built his own drilling rig, and designed and fabricated other items that would show up years later on the market.  
Lonny married Julie in 1981 and started a family (Adam and Aimee).  Years later he had Dalton, with Sue Cart, who was by his side when he passed away.  Lonny has 5 grandchildren he leaves behind; two from Adam, one from Aimee, and two from Dalton.  He also leaves behind two brothers; older brother Terry, and younger brother Anthony.  He was preceded in death by his Father (Ed) in 2000, and his mother (Louise) in 2014.  
Lonny was a free spirit and lived life on his terms.  He wasn’t much for conforming to societal norms, and took life at his own pace, deciding when to do what he wanted to.  Those that knew Lonny, will miss his easy going approach and his willingness to share what he had.  He found pleasure in the simple things in life and never took advantage of a friendship.  If you were lucky enough to be his friend, you were… lucky.