Enjoyed a movie on the square!

They have movies on the square in McDonough once a month during the summer, so we got to go and see Moana with some of our community tonight! Great movie, and the girls from Sue's connect group seemed to enjoy being out and about.  Fun!

Survived the graduations!

Whew, May madness is almost done! Here are the graduations we were part of: 

- We enjoyed going to Dalton and seeing Megan graduate with her Bachelor's Degree in Social Work from Dalton State College.  She is moving to Pennsylvania to take on her duties as a camp director at Krislund Camp and Conference Center.  Good luck, Megan!

- Our son Stephen graduated from Woodland High School.  He is looking forward to working over the summer and starts at Lee University in Cleveland, TN, in the fall.

- Our nephew Austin Holly graduated from Etowa High School.  He is going to be working at a day camp over the summer and looks forward to starting at University of Tennessee in the fall. 

That's a lot of celebrating! Good job, all of you.  And I'll be praying for continued success and happiness as you move into the next phase of your lives...

Megan earned her Bachelor's Degree!

She worked hard and satisfied all the requirements at Dalton State College to earn her Bachelor's Degree in Social Work - woohoo! Better yet - the summer camp she's worked at they past three years had hired her full-time as an assistant camp director! She will be overseeing camp and getting a satellite camp up and running, so it will be challenging work for her. Way to go, Megan - we're proud of you!

Happy birthday, Stephen!

Our third child turned 18 today - woohoo! He's done well in school but is ready to graduate and move on to the future. He's making us proud parents!

My father died

After a 3 year battle with lung cancer and the chemotherapy used to treat it my father, Henry W. Holly Jr., passed away.  Here's his obituary:

Henry W. Holly Jr. of Moss Bluff, son of Henry Woodrow Holly and Mattie Irl Holly, died at age 78 on April 8, 2017.  Growing up Henry worked in the orange groves over the summers and graduated from East Marion High School in 1956 then entered the Air Force.  During his 20 year military career Henry served in New Mexico, Washington DC, Florida, Taiwan, Hawaii, and Texas with temporary duty assignments in Vietnam.  After retiring from the military he earned an Associates Degree at Central Florida Community College in 1979.  Henry then had a 17-year administrative career with the Ocala Police Department. 

Henry was a fifth-generation son of Marion County and contributed to the community over the years as the LWHS Band Booster President, President of the South Marion Democrats Club, Treasurer and Committee Chair for Weirsdale's Boy Scout Troop 113 (Silver Beaver), member of the Ocklawaha chapter of Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS), the American Legion Post 284, member of the Masonic Lodge 95 in Belleview, and a member of Weirsdale Presbyterian Church.  Henry is survived by his wife of 55 years Mary Holly, sons David (Susan) and Michael (Claudia), sister Betty Ann Penuel, and seven grandchildren (Jacob, Megan, Stephen, Kevin, Austin, Nicholas, and Benjamin). Henry will be remembered by family and friends as a kind, loving, and generous man that positively impacted many, many lives.

Dad passed away

My father, Henry W. Holly Jr., passed away last night after a 3 year struggle with lung cancer.  He passed out overnight and needed help to get into the van to go to the hospital.  He spent the evening in the ER and died shortly after midnight. 

My brother and his family were in Orlando for Spring Break so they were able to get there and be with him and my mother.  Sue was in the area, and I made my way down from Augusta to be with my family. 

I am going to spend the week with my mother and help her work through all the things that have to be taken care of  when someone dies.  The funeral will probably be this coming Saturday, the day before Easter.  Here's the obituary we will be running:

Henry W. Holly Jr. of Moss Bluff, son of Henry Woodrow Holly and Mattie Irl Holly, died at age 78 on April 8, 2017.  Growing up Henry worked in the orange groves over the summers and graduated from East Marion High School in 1956 then entered the Air Force.  During his 20 year military career Henry served in New Mexico, Washington DC, Florida, Taiwan, Hawaii, and Texas with temporary duty assignments in Vietnam.  After retiring from the military he earned an Associates Degree at Central Florida Community College in 1979.  Henry then had a 17-year administrative career with the Ocala Police Department. 

Henry was a fifth-generation son of Marion County and contributed to the community over the years as the LWHS Band Booster President, President of the South Marion Democrats Club, Treasurer and Committee Chair for Weirsdale's Boy Scout Troop 113 (Silver Beaver), member of the Belleview chapter of Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS), the American Legion Post 284, member of the Masonic Lodge 95 in Belleview, and a member of Weirsdale Presbyterian Church.  Henry is survived by his wife of 55 years Mary Holly, sons David (Susan) and Michael (Claudia), sister Betty Ann Penuel, and seven grandchildren (Jacob, Megan, Stephen, Kevin, Austin, Nicholas, and Benjamin). Henry will be remembered by family and friends as a kind, loving, and generous man that positively impacted many, many lives. 

Megan is engaged!

Her boyfriend Booker asked her to marry him is a romantic candle-lit way during her trip to Pennsylvania over the holidays.  They are very excited but no details have been decided on yet.  Go, Megan!