Patrick Lee Strandley, identified as NaMus ID: UCP5341, was a 74-year-old man who passed away on February 12, 2017, due to natural causes at Tacoma General Hospital in Tacoma, Washington. Despite his time in the community, he had no known family to claim him, leaving his final arrangements to be handled by the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office (PCMEO). The PCMEO undertook a comprehensive search to locate any relatives or next of kin but, ultimately, came up empty-handed in their efforts. This. Unfortunately, it meant that Mr. Strandley's remains initially had no designated resting place.
Following his death, Patrick Lee Strandley was sent to a rotational funeral home, where he was cremated, and his cremains were then returned to the PCMEO. It was later discovered that he was a veteran, which made him eligible for burial at a national cemetery. Recognizing this, the agency arranged to have his cremains transferred to an organization dedicated to honoring unclaimed veterans. The Missing in America Project, known for ensuring that unclaimed veterans receive their rightful honors and burials, took responsibility for Mr. Strandley’s final journey.
On June 15, 2017, Patrick Lee Strandley's cremains were released to the Missing in America Project. Thanks to their intervention, Mr. Strandley was provided the respect and dignity of being laid to rest at Tahoma National Cemetery, a dedicated resting place for veterans. This act of reverence ensured that despite his lack of known family, Patrick Lee Strandley was not forgotten and was honored for his service in a dignified manner. The Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office, located at 3619 Pacific Avenue in Tacoma, Washington, and reachable at 253-798-6494, managed the process under the agency case number 17-0380. Their efforts exemplify a commitment to ensure that unclaimed individuals, especially veterans, receive a respectful burial.
Date Found: 02/12/2017
