Forrest L. Holder, 65, of Elizabethton, passed away Saturday, July 5, 2014, at the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center after a long hard battle with COPD.
A native of Memphis, Tenn., he was a son of the late Lewis and Pauline Holder.
Forrest served in the United States Marine Corps. He loved life and living in the mountains of East Tennessee. He wished he had been here all his life. Forrest was a very talented artist. He loved to carve and paint unique items. His goal was only one of a kind piece of work. He was featured in several newspapers and in woodcarvers illustrated magazines. He would usually write a short story for each of his carvings which made them more unique. He was of the Church of Christ faith.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Roy Holder.
Forrest leaves behind his wife of eight years, Connie Hughes Holder, the love of his life; also his children, Angie Holder, Christy Holder Fooshee, Eric Holder, Brandon Holder, Shelby Holder Schilz and Cristy Holder Bailey; and 13 grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mr. Holder will be conducted at 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 8, at Memorial Funeral Chapel with Mr. Hugh Hall officiating. Graveside services and interment will be at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 9, in the Mountain Home National Cemetery. Active pallbearers, who are requested to assemble at the funeral home at 1:45 p.m. Wednesday, will be Brandon Holder, Mike Bailey, Seth Schilz, Benny Lyons, Mike Sercey, Dwight Stiltner and Charles McCoury. Honorary pallbearers will be Bill Lyons, Leslie Head, Bill Vaught, Floyd Odom and all his carving buddies. The family would like to express a special “Thank You” to the doctors, nurses and staff of the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center, the staff of Amedysis Hospice and the Medical Comfort System that worked so hard trying to save Forrest. Each and every one is a true blessing. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Friends may also visit with the family at the residence. Family and friends will assemble at the funeral home at 1:45 p.m. Wednesday to go to the cemetery. Condolences may be e-mailed to mfc@chartertn.net.
Memorial Funeral Chapel is serving the Holder family.