Ersel D. Holder

A Memorial Service celebrating the life of Ersel Dean Holder, 74, will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, July 5, 2025, at Eastwood Baptist Church Haughton, LA. Visitation will be from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Officiating will be John Burns.

Ersel was born March 6, 1951, in Ponca City, Oklahoma. The Lord called Ersel home on June 12, 2025. Ersel’s loving parents were Chris and Cecil “Pappy” Landes.

Ersel attended Ponca City High School where he played football, baseball and basketball. Ersel graduated from Oklahoma State University. Ersel worked at the Family Business, Tee Pee Service Station thru his college years. He worked for K-Mart for 3 years before his 31 year career with Firestone.

Ersel was a member of Eastwood Baptist Church, where he had served as a Sunday School Leader and a Deacon. Ersel enjoyed being part of the church drama team. He was in many of the church drama presentations. Ersel loved spending time with his family and friends, hunting, fishing, playing cards and Mexican Train. Ersel enjoyed growing flowers in his yard and passed his love of flowers to his children and grandchildren. He enjoyed teaching his grandchildren how to pull weeds, a job he hated.

Ersel married Shirley Huff in 1969. Ersel and Shirley had 3 children, Ersel Jr., Loren and Angela.

Left to cherish his memory and to carry on his legacy is his beloved wife of 56 years, Shirley Holder; children, Ersel Holder Jr., Loren Holder (Kim), Angela Chandler (Chad) and Cristy Holder; grandchildren, Chelsea Holder, Adam Holder, Levi Holder, Julia Holder and Briley Chandler; sister Emma Bryer (Kenny); uncle, Wayne Holder; sister-in-law, Connie Garrett (Larry); nieces and nephews, Diane Ledford (James), Eric Huff (Sheri), Kelly Gomez (Don), Dianna Davis (Kirk), Larry Garrett (Celine), Cindy Garrett, and Robert Garrett (Jill); along with great nieces and nephews, Hope, Journey, and Richard Ledford, Erin Simon (Ryan), Heather Saville (Ryan), Matt Huff (Becca), Nichole Gomez, and Melissa Gomez; along with great-great nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.

Ersel is preceded in death by his parents, Chris and Cecil “Pappy” Landes and his grandparents, Herb and Mable Holder.

To honor Ersel’s love of sports the family is asking you to wear your favorite sports team logo wear or camo as we celebrate Ersel’s Life!

In lieu of flowers the family request memorials be made to Eastwood Baptist Church Youth Group.

"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."