William Holly

William Creighton Holly, 82, died Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, after a brief illness. He was born June 2, 1941, in Hope, Arkansas, and was primarily raised in Arkansas.

He graduated from Stuttgart (Arkansas) High School in 1959, where he was a member of the varsity football and track teams.

Bill moved from Arkansas to Denver during his senior year of college after attending the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville and Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas. His major was pre-medical. However, in Denver he continued his education on a part-time basis through the University of Colorado, altering his major to that of business/finance. Additionally, he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity. During his residency in Denver, he was employed by Community Finance Corp., Colorado State Bank and Metropolitan National Bank

In 1966, he met and married Elizabeth Ann Mueller of Cape Girardeau. The couple had two sons, Michael Creighton Holly, 1967, and William Christopher Holly, 1971, and the family relocated to Cape Girardeau in 1973. A divorce ensued late in 1974, and Bill was married and divorced thereafter. Finally, he resolved to remain single for the remainder of time.

Bill continued his education at Southeast Missouri State University on a part-time basis, culminating in his receiving two baccalaureate degrees with emphasis in finance and management majors.

After his arrival in Cape Girardeau, Bill was employed by Jackson Savings and Loan, Ryder Trucking and Jerry Lipps Trucking, and from 1982, Bill was associated with the construction union movement as a founding member (card No. 4) of Craftsman Independent Union, Local 1, where he served as the recording secretary for 24 years. He was also a founding member and second vice president of Craftsman International Union, the parent organization of the local union. He served as the vice president of Midtown Family Medical Center of union affiliation and additionally. for a seven-year period, while affiliated with the union, Bill held the position of manager of Consumer Credit Counseling Inc. of Cape Girardeau.

Bill spent many hours serving with various community organizations prior to his retirement in 2006. Also in that year, he retired with 22 1/2 years of duty in the U. S. Naval Reserve with the rank of storekeeper 1.

Survivors include two sons, Michael (Kim) Holly of Rogers, Arkansas, and William Christopher (Kristie) Holly of Perryville; five grandchildren, Madalyn Robinson and Myles (Juliette) Robinson, both of Rogers; Madison Robinson of San Diego; Kai Holly of Point Lookout; and Erin Holly of Perryville; great-granddaughter, Juniper Robinson; sister, Carolyn (Bob) Pace of Twinsburg, Ohio; and longtime companion, Gloria Cora.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Henry Z. and Bobbie Holly, and brother, Henry Z. Holly Jr.

Visitation will be from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25, at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25, at the funeral home, with Brother Jim Matthews officiating.

Private burial will be at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Hope.

Online condolences may be sent at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.