Birth date: Feb 26, 1947 Death date: Jan 31, 2019
David E. Stratton of Brighton passed away January 31,2019. David was born February 26, 1947 to Charles Stratton and Helma (Perry) (Stratton) Pippin. David was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, brother Matt Pippin and Read Obituary
In 1999, I was hauling cattle out of Garden City Ks, I had stopped at a truck stop in Nebraska and used the phone to call my ex boyfriend. We argued pretty bad and I was very upset (of course) I hung up, went to my truck and was leaving to go to Missouri to reload cattle the next morning. As I was leaving this other cow hauler was parked next to me. He tried to get my attention, I ignored him, Men were not a good thing at that moment. Now I left, and got back on the interstate and I looked in my mirror and seen this red cow truck catching up to me. I couldn't believe it. Next thing I knew he was pulling up next to me on the highway trying to get me to pull over. I wouldn't. He got on the radio and asked me if I wanted a cup of coffee that he'd be glad to buy me one, Nope I wanted no part of that. After 90 miles, I was Missouri, and he tried so hard to talk with me. I finally pulled into a rest area. He parked next to me, gets out and starts washing my windows and mirrors, I thought WHAT THE..... We talked a little while and he introduced himself to me, "Dave Stratton, everyone calls me Diamond Dave" I couldn't get over how hard he tried to talk to me, I told him about the breakup with my boyfriend, and that daily he still messes with me and how I was really hurt by him. Well, we sat there for 2 hours talking. We drove to Nevada Missouri and we ate supper there. I was staying the night because I had to load a few miles from there the next morning. He didn't have to be anywhere himself till the next afternoon. Yes,, we spent the night together, BUT, he was a gentleman and for the first time in years I felt safe and at ease.. He was my knight in a shinny red Peterbilt truck. That was when we started dating and soon after, I moved in with him.
Life got complicated with our jobs and what I wanted in life. We split up, In 2008, was the last time I spoke to him, I was living in South Texas, and he was coming to get me and get my life in order once again, it was to late. I've thought about him so much. I tried to find him once I was released, and today, I find he had passed away. I hope David knew I never stopped loving him, never.
I met Dave 3 years ago as his car was broken down on the side of the road, not knowing he was actually one of my neighbors, after helping him by towing his car home, we talked for a good while. He in turned allowed me to hunt and cut wood on his property and only asked for me to keep an eye on the place and to do some odds and ins type of stuff for him around the place. I am truly grateful for his friendship and he will be missed!
CJ Shuler
