Leroy Holly

Services are scheduled at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 16, at First Baptist Church for Leroy 0. Holly, 1111 Sears Ave., Artesia, New Mexico.

Mr. Holly, 87, died Sunday, December 12, 2010 at Heartland Nursing Center in Artesia, New Mexico.

Rev. Rick Sullivan will officiate at the services with burial at Twin Oaks Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be his nephews Ed Vinson, Rocky Holly, Randy Holly, Ray Holly, Ronnie Holly, Craig Holly, Barry Holly, and Don Holly. Honorary pallbearers will be Kent Whitmire, Jack Butler, Ed Lee, Darwin Thompson, John Yates, and Royce Pearson.

Visitation will be at Terpening Son Mortuary beginning at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Mr. Holly was born February 21, 1923 in Lubbock, Texas the son of Ben Holly and Mattie Parrack Holly.

On Oct. 18, 1947 he was married to Mildred Lee Finley in Lubbock, Texas. He came to Artesia in 1947 from Lubbock, Texas. She preceded him in death Feb. 4, 2000. On Jan. 5, 2002 he was married to Irene Francis in Artesia.

He served in the United States Army during World War II.

He was a blacksmith, welder, and worked for AMAX and IMC Potash Mines. He was a member of First Baptist Church, Masons, Eastern Star, and the faith based Drug and Crime Coalition.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and brothers Arthur M. Holly and William B. Holly.

Survivors include his wife Irene Holly of the family home sons Ben Holly and wife Debbie of Alvord, Texas, and Richard Holly and wife Gloria of Von Ormy, Texas daughter Margie Holly Aaron and husband Randy of San Antonio, Texas sister Vialma Holly Vinson of Midland, Texas sisterinlaw Nita Holly of Artesia grandchildren John David Aaron, Michael Scott Aaron and wife Lynn, Robert Benjamin Holly II and wife Rebecca, Alicia Diane Holly Collier and husband James currently serving in Afghanistan, and Matthew Lee Holly 5 greatgrandchildren stepchildren James W. Francis and wife Susan, Joyce Munoz, Jerry Don Francis and wife Lisa, Jay Lynn Francis and wife Tracy 11 stepgrandchildren and 10 stepgreatgrandchildren also numerous nieces and nephews.