Constant Lee "Connie" Stribling, 78, formerly of Virginia, IL and Ashland, IL, died Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Springfield.

She was born Dec. 19, 1945, in Joliet, the daughter of Donald and Alice (Nixdorff) Scheffler. She married Harry "H.C." Stribling on May 3, 1968, in Ashland, and he preceded her in death on Nov. 14, 2009.

She is survived by her daughter, Sandra Ann Stribling of Ashland; one sister, Sandra Ann Wyatt of Springfield; and several nieces and nephews. She is also survived by H.C.'s three children. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and one sister, Holly Brown Kmetz, formerly of Grayslake, IL.

Connie was an awesome homemaker, a talented seamstress and a beautiful quilt maker. She was a self-taught guitar player and loved to sing old country music and dance to the Beatles.

Connie met her future husband by chance and/or by fate on New Year's Eve at Yatesville School House on a night of square dancing, which was being called by the Zillion's who happened to ask her to go with them that night. Harry Stribling asked her to dance, and they were married the following May. They were married 41 years at the time of his passing. In all actuality, 41 years of being by his side, devoted in all directions of his future goal of when retired, being out of the city and back to the country, where Connie enjoyed their log cabin home and the country life with everything that involved. Her love of animals thrived even more with livestock. (The animals had no idea that they weren't her pets.) Also, Bandit, her pet raccoon, and her devoted plot hound, B.J., named from her two favorite movies, B.J. and the Bear, and Smoky and the Bandit. There was also Petey the Peacock who came from the neighbor's house.

Connie's many talents and simple enjoyment of the life she led, along with that big heart will be missed by her family.

A graveside memorial service will be held 11:30am Monday, July 1, 2024, at Walnut Ridge Cemetery in Virginia. Memorials are suggested to Animal Protective League of Springfield. The Buchanan & Cody Funeral Home in Ashland is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be sent online at buchanancody.com.