Mitchell Corie Strotter, 54, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, passed away on 19 May 2023 after succumbing to a temporary heart stoppage and kidney failure.
Corie was born on January 17, 1969, to Louis Caddie and Wanda Lois Strotter. Corie attended the Oklahoma City Public School system where he attended Northeast High School, and started being called Mitchell, affectionately known as Mitch. Mitch graduated from Northeast High School in 1987.
Mitch grew up modestly on the "Eastside" where he was cultured through many diverse experiences. He played Cello in the orchestra at Martin Luther King Jr, Elementary, little league baseball for the Red Sox, wrestled for Capitol Hill, Jr. High School, and football with Uptown Optimist throughout his early childhood. He later played varsity football as a Defensive Tackle and Noseguard for the Northeast Vikings.
After graduation, Mitch enlisted into the Oklahoma National Guard as a Heavy Anti-Armor Infantryman (11H) where he attended Basic One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, Georgia January 1988. Upon completing basic training, Mitch was assigned to Det 1, B Company, 2nd Battalion, 180th Infantry (TOW) as a Crew Member and Supply Specialist. He was later reassigned to A Company, 700th Support Battalion as a Water Purification Specialist. Mitch honorably served in the Oklahoma National Guard from July 1987 through July 1995.
After his Military service Mitch trained and worked in the Culinary Arts and served as a Chef for many prominent organizations around Oklahoma City managing kitchens with, Marriott, Hilton, Best Western, and Canterbury Farms. His love for feeding people was second only to his love for nurturing close relationships over breakfast; his favorite, self-proclaimed, and revered most important meal.
Mitchell was married to Racquel McFarthing-Fields in 1991. Not only was Mitch a husband but a father and provider to his minor sister in-law Ekannem, brother in-law Brandon, and stepdaughter Ashley McFarthing. Of this union was his son Mitchell Corie McFarthing, Jr. which resulted in divorce in 1999.
A union with companion Kareen "Peaches" Reid resulted in the birth of their daughter Ameerah Deborah Strotter. Mitch's daughter was with him from the day she was born until he transitioned. Mitchell cherished providing his "little girl" with cultural experiences. He established a stable presence at all her activities, cheerleading, and basketball games. His whole life's existence was to be a great father, a great provider, and an even greater man and "daddy" for his children.
Due to renal failure in 2010 Mitchell retired from being a Chef in the Culinary Arts. He was able to focus on passing his life skills to his children by being a positive example of a brother, friend, and provider for his family and mom. He also enjoyed his retirement by spending his pastime fishing, racing remote control cars and boats, and playing dominoes with his childhood friends Johnny and Darryl at Lake Hefner.
Mitch was predeceased by his dad Louis Caddie; uncles Codis Mims, 'Diablo' Belvard Strotter, Lynwood Strotter; and cousins Albert and Freddie Jones, Donald and James Brown, and Kimberly M. Mims.
He is survived by his biological children Mitchell C. McFarthing-Strotter, Jr., Ameerah D. Strotter, and bonus daughter Ashlee McFarthing, his mother Wanda L. Strotter, brothers Nicholas C. Moses (Trina), Louis C. Strotter (Sandra), and Matthew L. Strotter (Laurel), Charles Hayes; his uncle Andrew J. Cook (Deborah); aunts 'Sug' Berta L. Mims and LaRuth Strotter; his 1st cousins John, Michael, and Donna Cook, C. West Shawn Mims, DeMarcus Strotter, and Chad L. Strotter (Anna) and Rachel A. Strotter; grandchildren Zoey, Zuri, and Zion; a host of nieces, nephews, and close friends too numerous to name.
A memorial service will be held at Stars and Stripes Park, Hefner Lake, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on 26 May 2023 at 5:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests your thoughts and prayers for strength, comfort and encouragement to the family and loved ones be offered up to the Most High as we grieve our loss.