December 6, 1989 – March 13, 2007

Samara L. Stricklen, 17, of Lakewood. A student at Bear Creek High School. Daughter of Michelle Stricklen-Long and Bill Stricklen. Sister of Zachariah. Granddaughter of Joyce Stricklen and Louise Long-Shade. Niece of Kenneth Long, Gail & Debra Stricklen. Great Granddaughter of Florence Parks. Memorials to the Samara Stricklen Teen Foundation or the Zach Stricklen Educational Fund care of Wells Fargo Bank.

Teen crash victim mourned

Friends, family recall Stricklen as “always willing to help”

By Felisa Cardona
Denver Post Staff Writer

Samara Stricklen, 17, who was killed by a suspected drunk driver last week, was honored at her funeral service at Bear Creek Church on March 19, 2007. (Cyrus McCrimmon/The Denver Post)

Hundreds of friends and family members mourned the death of 17-year-old Bear Creek High School student Samara Stricklen during a funeral today in Lakewood.

Last Tuesday, Stricklen was killed and a 20-year-old man was critically injured after the car she was riding in was struck by a sports-utility vehicle.

The female driver, a 16-year-old student from Green Mountain High School, is being held and faces possible charges. Police believe she may have been drinking before the crash.

Stricklen’s 20-year-old friend, Seth Mutschler, who was driving the car that Stricklen was riding in, remains in critical condition at St. Anthony Medical Center.

Friends also prayed for his recovery during Stricklen’s funeral.

The Rev. Aric Randolph told those who gathered at Bear Creek Church that Stricklen was like the biblical good Samaritan she was named after.

“She put her friends first and was always willing to help other people,” Randolph said in sign language. Most of the service was conducted in sign language because Stricklen’s parents and many of their friends are deaf.

Bill and Michelle Stricklen urged teenagers to stay away from alcohol and announced they have set up a foundation in their daughter’s name to combat underage drinking.

Randolph told mourners that Samara Stricklen’s death was an opportunity to address the problem of drinking and driving.

“Life is so short,” Randolph said. “It’s precious. It’s priceless. Is it worth one sip of pleasure to destroy someone’s life?”

The Stricklens also set up an education fund for Zach Stricklen, her 13-year-old brother. Anyone interested may donate at any Wells Fargo Bank branch.