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January marked a year since Helen Strickland endured the unthinkable trauma of finding her husband, country rock singer Craig Strickland, dead on the shores of a rural Oklahoma lake following a duck hunting accident with his friend, Chase Morland. She paid tribute to her late partner on the anniversary of his death with a touching message shared to Instagram, and now she’s reflecting on the heartbreaking experience in a pair of essays posted to her personal blog on the eve of Valentine’s Day. Titled “From Newly Wed to Widow: The Search for Craig,” Strickland opens up about the ordeal in agonizing detail,...

Craig Strickland and Helen Strickland had planned on having countless conversations together, but after his tragic death at the start of 2016, these were some of the last words they ever exchanged.  It was a year ago on Wednesday that the Backroad Anthem frontman was discovered dead from accidental hypothermia after his boat capsized in a lake during a hunting trip in Oklahoma. At the time, he was 29 years old and had just celebrated his first wedding anniversary with his wife a month earlier.   A few days before Strickland first went missing, he texted Helen to pay her a compliment and update her on his plans for the day. Unbeknownst to her, they would be the last texts she would...

Helen Strickland is paying tribute to her beloved husband, Craig Strickland, a year after his death.

The late country singer and his friend Chase Morland were reported missing last December after going on a duck hunting trip in Oklahoma with Craig's dog, Sam. Although Sam survived, both Chase and Craig were later found dead. Craig, the lead singer of local Arkansas band Backroad Anthem, was 29 years old.

"I remember receiving these last texts from him before talking for the last time on the phone -- I'm so thankful God gave me the blessing of getting to say and hear the words 'I love you' to/from him just moments before he and Chase got in their 10ft flat bottom boat,'" Helen Instagrammed on Wednesday, Jan. 4, the one-year anniversary of when her husband was found dead. "It was truly such a blessing the day we found Craig. We were finally able to find some kind of peace...

A year after Backroad Anthem frontman Craig Strickland was found dead, his wife Helen Strickland is sharing the last texts the two exchanged.

The 29-year-old country singer and his friend Chase Morland were reported missing on Dec. 27, 2015 after disappearing during a duck hunting trip in Kay County, Oklahoma. Their boat capsized due to winter storm Goliath, a search party discovered Morland’s body on Dec. 28 while Craig was discovered on Jan. 4. His beloved black lab Sam, who was also on the trip, survived.

Looking back, Helen called the day Craig was found “a blessing.”

“It was truly such a blessing the day we found Craig,...

Craig Strickland's widow is still recovering from her husband's tragic death.

Helen Strickland took to Instagram on Tuesday to mourn the country star, who died on a hunting trip last December, posting a sweet note in honor of what would have been their two-year wedding anniversary.

Watch: Craig Strickland Died of Hypothermia, Medical Examiner Rules It Was Accidental

"Happy Anniversary Craig Michael. I will miss you every step of the way in this life," Helen wrote alongside a video of the pair's moments together, "but I am thankful that I can always look back on the precious memory of our marriage with love in my heart."

"I can be thankful because you are with our Father...meaning I can find peace knowing that since we are both His, you both are mine," she concluded. "#loveyoualways."

Watch: Country Singer Craig Strickland's Body Found, Wife Tweets: 'Thank You Lord for Leading Us to Him'

Strickland's body was recovered on Jan...

This week, Helen Strickland is celebrating her wedding anniversary with one special angel in mind.  Less than a year ago, her husband, country singer Craig Strickland, was found dead after his boat capsized in a lake during a hunting trip in Oklahoma. He was just 29 years old.  While his untimely passing took a toll on all who knew and loved Craig, his wife turned to religion to give her strength during these trying months, particularly Tuesday on what would have marked two years of marriage.    "Dear Heavenly Father, continue to let your Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders, let me walk upon the water, wherever You would call me...and take me deeper than my feet...

The widow of Craig Strickland, the country singer who died earlier this year during an ill-fated duck hunting trip, is remembering her late husband on what would have been their two-year wedding anniversary.

“Happy Anniversary Craig Michael. I will miss you every step of the way in this life,” Helen Strickland wrote alongside and Instagram video on Tuesday. “But I am thankful that I can always look back on the precious memory of our marriage with love in my heart.”

The video included a series of photos from the couple’s wedding day. Shots featured Helen putting the final touches...

Nearly three months after his passing, the cause of Craig Strickland's death has been officially ruled by a medical examiner. According to the autopsy report obtained by E! News, the country singer died from hypothermia while the manner of death was ruled an accident. Following the news of Strickland being found over a week after he went missing during a duck-hunting trip with his friend Chase Morland, who also tragically died, his wife Helen Strickland released the following statement: "#CraigStrickland was found today. He is safe with his Father in Heaven. Thank you Lord for leading us to him today. I will praise you, Amen." Less than a week ago, Craig's widow took a photo of his...

Following the burial of her late husband Craig Strickland on Tuesday, Helen Strickland is sharing the letter she slipped into his jacket pocket before saying goodbye. "I love you with all my heart," she wrote. "I will miss doing life with you on this earth. You were my person and are the love of my earthly life. Thank you for sharing the last few years you had with me. I know you are in better hands than mine. The Lord is taking care of you, and loves you more than I could ever imagine. I can't wait to see you again in heaven.

Following the burial of her late husband Craig Strickland on Tuesday, Helen Strickland is sharing the letter she slipped into his jacket pocket before saying goodbye. "I love you with all my heart," she wrote. "I will miss doing life with you on this earth. You were my person and are the love of my earthly life. Thank you for sharing the last few years you had with me. I know you are in better hands than mine. The Lord is taking care of you, and loves you more than I could ever imagine. I can't wait to see you again in heaven.

Helen Strickland has opened up about her final moments with her late husband Craig Strickland before he left for the hunting trip that claimed his life and that of his friend Chase Morland. "We laid on the couch and I rubbed his chest and we talked," Strickland, 27, told CNN Thursday. "And we talked about Harry Potter - because I love Harry Potter - and joked. He walked out the door and looked at me and said, 'I love you' and blew me a kiss and said, 'I'll talk to you soon' and walked out. I wouldn't change anything about that.

Helen Strickland, the wife of late country singer Craig Strickland, has remained positive in the days since her husband's body was found after a fatal Oklahoma hunting trip. Her latest source of strength, however, comes from Craig, himself. The former Miss Arkansas 2014 shared a photo of a note Craig wrote to her on their wedding day, a discovery she wrote made her smile amid unimaginable sadness. "Today I found this precious treasure Craig wrote for me to read on the day of our wedding," Helen wrote alongside the image on Wednesday. "The Lord is good always... I know this because...

Craig Strickland's widow is taking solace in the country singer's beloved black lab Sam, who was found safe after the fatal hunting trip that claimed the lives of Strickland and his friend. Helen Strickland uploaded a photo of her and the dog to Instagram on Tuesday after she took the pup to the visitation service for Chase Morland, Strickland's hunting buddy who also died during the trip. "We had the opportunity to go to [Morland's] visitation tonight. He was so loved by so many people," she wrote. "It was encouraging to be around his wonderful friends and family. "Sam was also...

Craig Strickland's widow is taking solace in the country singer's beloved black lab Sam, who was found safe after the fatal hunting trip that claimed the lives of Strickland and his friend. Helen Strickland uploaded a photo of her and the dog to Instagram on Tuesday after she took the pup to the visitation service for Chase Morland, Strickland's hunting buddy who also died during the trip. "We had the opportunity to go to [Morland's] visitation tonight. He was so loved by so many people," she wrote. "It was encouraging to be around his wonderful friends and family. "Sam was also...

While mourning the loss of her husband, Craig Strickland's wife is cherishing the memories she has of him. Helen Strickland Instagrammed a sweet video message that her husband made for her before their 2014 wedding. "On the day of our wedding Craig had me watch a video he had made to tell me how much he loved me," she posted. "I am so thankful for technology in this moment because I will always have this. I watched this privately prior to walking down the aisle, and so now I want to share this small excerpt with all of you. "Thank you...

Backroad Anthem frontman Craig Strickland was confirmed dead on Monday after he went missing last month while duck hunting during a violent storm, and as fans mourned, his wife shared details of his final moments. “Craig was found today. We can finally rest knowing that he is at Home in Heaven with his Father,” his wife, Helen Strickland, wrote in a heartbreaking Instagram post on Monday afternoon. “The night of the accident he had fought his way out of the water and up a hill before the stages of hypothermia set in. “He experienced no pain in his final moments and simply.

Backroad Anthem has issued a statement on Facebook after learning their band member, Craig Strickland, was found dead on Monday. "Today we lost our brother, our best friend, our bandmate. Craig was the most amazing person whose passion for life couldn't be matched," the country band wrote under a group photo. "Thankful to know he fought his way from the water to a hill and was lying in the shape of a cross on his back looking up to his Heavenly Father." Strickland, 29, went missing last week after he and his friend Chase Morland braved winter storm Goliath for a duck-hunting trip.

Country singer Craig Strickland survived the capsizing of his boat but died from exposure, and his wife believes the way his body was found has religious overtones. Helen Strickland says her husband was able to make his way to shore after his boat capsized in a horrible storm. She says he "fought his way out of the water and up a hill." According to Helen, Craig died from hypothermia, adding "They found him lying in...

Hours after Craig Strickland's body was found at Bear Creek Cove near Kaw Lake in Kay County, Oklahoma, his wife, Helen Strickland, is shedding some light on his last moments. "Craig was found today. We can finally rest knowing that he is at home in heaven with his father," Helen posted on Instagram. "The night of the accident he had fought his way out of the water and up a hill before the stages of hypothermia set in. He experienced no pain in his final moments and simply felt like he was falling asleep. They found him lying in the...

Hours after Craig Strickland's body was found at Bear Creek Cove near Kaw Lake in Kay County, Oklahoma, his wife, Helen Strickland, is shedding some light on his last moments. "Craig was found today. We can finally rest knowing that he is at home in heaven with his father," Helen posted on Instagram. "The night of the accident he had fought his way out of the water and up a hill before the stages of hypothermia set in. He experienced no pain in his final moments and simply felt like he was falling asleep. They found him lying in the...

Craig Strickland has been found dead. "The Oklahoma Highway Patrol Marine Enforcement Division made recovery of the body of Craig M. Strickland this morning Jan. 4, 2016," a spokesperson confirms to People in a statement. "Strickland and his friend, Chase R. Morland were both reported missing on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, while on a duck hunt at Kaw Lake in Kay County, Oklahoma. Strickland's body was located within the original search area known as Bear Creek Cove. The Strickland family has been notified of the recovery." Wife Helen Strickland tweeted, "Craig was found today. He is safe with his Father in Heaven. Thank you...

The search for Craig Strickland continues. Over the weekend, his wife Helen Strickland took to Instagram with updates on the ongoing efforts to locate the 29-year-old country star. "We are so thankful for the 4 State Search and Rescue team who have volunteered their services to help the Oklahoma State Police," Helen wrote in part on Saturday, nearly a week since he was reported missing on Dec. 27. She added, "We are also blessed to have the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, McLean County Ema (Il) and the Cottleville Fire Dept (Mo) working as one combined effort. They have all brought with them so...

Country singer Craig Strickland's wife Helen took to social media on Thursday to update fans on the search for her husband. The country singer, 29, went missing Monday after heading into a severe winter storm to go duck hunting with his friend, Chase Morland. Morland was found dead on Monday by the pair's capsized boat, though the singer's black lab was found alive by his body. "Boat marks, foot prints & dog prints were found today. No other sign of #CraigStrickland, but this cuts the amount of he search by 50%," Helen tweeted on New Year's Eve.Two hours later, the former pageant queen clarified her message.

On Saturday, lead singer of country rock band Backroad Anthem, Craig Strickland, 29, went missing with friend, Chase Morland, 22. The pair went duck hunting and never returned. Strickland’s black lab, Sam, was found alive while Morland was found dead on Monday. Strickland’s boat was found capsized. Strickland’s wife, Helen Strickland, 2014’s Miss Arkansa USA, […]

The post Craig Strickland, Backroad Anthem Lead Singer, Missing, Friend Chase Morland Found Dead appeared first on uInterview.

Helen Strickland, the wife of country singer Craig Strickland, asked fans to "keep praying" following her husband's disappearance in Oklahoma over the weekend. Craig and friend Chase Morland went duck hunting amid winter storm Goliath. After family and friends didn't hear from them, a search party began looking for the pair. Morland's body was discovered, but Craig is still missing. Helen, who was Miss Arkansas USA in 2014, has been regularly posting updates on her Twitter, first writing on Monday that "Craig's dog Sam has been found." She continued, "His boat has been confirmed as being capsized. They are still searching for Craig.