Jon Phillip Strong

Jon was born on April 9, 1958, in Denton, Texas, to Agnes Linda (Irvine) and Harlan DeVere Strong. He grew up in Irving, Texas, when groups of kids roamed the neighborhood playing until the streetlights came on. He loved visiting his grandparent’s farm in Georgetown, Texas, where he and his brothers Michael and David fished in the stock tank and hunted for fossils in the old creek bed.

As a sports photographer for the Irving Daily News, Jon was on the field at Texas Stadium shooting the Dallas Cowboys during their 1970s-1980s heyday. Somehow, he also managed to take just as many photos of the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders! Jon was passionate about photography and the newspaper business and was a reporter, editor, and photographer for a number of small Texas newspapers in Keller, Irving, and the Lake Cities, as well as the 440 Running News, a quarter-horse periodical. He was a talented writer and was working on a science fiction novel at the time of his death.

Jon loved the arts. He drew and painted, and produced his oldest child’s first play at university. He also took great pleasure in working for many years as the shop foreman for the Raymer Bookbindery, in Lewisville, Texas. There he learned the craft of hand binding books in leather, using marbled end papers, and embossing them with gold. His work was beautiful.

Jon’s greatest love was his children: Ian, Colin, and Duncan. After Duncan was born, he cheerfully took on the role of a full-time Dad. He volunteered at the kids’ schools and for many years coached the Destination Imagination teams for the Fair Oaks Ranch Elementary School. He never missed a Little League, soccer or lacrosse game, took the boys fishing and camping, and built them a tree house on the five acres in Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas, where they lived. He adored his boys.

In recent years, Jon loved playing poker with his friends. He also opened a boutique called Solana Zoe, and renovated houses. A serious heart condition slowed him down but he always loved his children and family.

Jon is survived by his sons, Ian Alexander Strong, Colin Patterson Strong, and Duncan Ellis Strong; his mother, Agnes Linda (Irvine) Strong; his brother, Michael Alan Strong; his nephews, Taylor DeVere Strong and Spencer DeVere Hansen Strong; and his ex-wife Wendi Ellen Strong. His beloved brother David DeVere Strong predeceased him.

In lieu of flowers, please donate in Jon’s name to your favorite charity.

A service will be held at 1 pm on Saturday, October 15 at Sunset North Funeral Home, 910 N Loop 1604 East, San Antonio, Texas. Visitation is from 6-9 pm on Friday, October 14.