James Wesley Holley

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, May 14, 2016 at Memorial Park Cemetery East Mausoleum with Pastor Jerry Davey officiating. Entombment will be at Memorial Park Cemetery by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 I-40 East. Masonic Rites will be conducted by the Billy Dixon Masonic Lodge 1369, Fritch, Texas.

James Wesley Holley, 95, received his heavenly wings on May 6, 2016.

Mr. Holley, born in Boonesville, Texas on April 12, 1921, graduated from Paradise High School. In his 20’s, he arrived in Bunavista to work as a mechanic for the federal government synthetic rubber plant (later Phillips Petroleum). He received numerous awards for his ingenuity over the next 37 years. Originally a member of Masonic Isom Lodge No. 1242 in Borger in 1947, Mr. Holley subsequently was a founding member of the Billy Dixon 1369 Lodge in Fritch, where he served as the first secretary for five years. He achieved his 32nd degree in 1964 and was presented his 50 year pin in 2014 by the Scottish Rite, Orient of Texas, Valley of El Paso. Mr. Holley was also an active community leader in Fritch, serving as precinct chair, election judge, and city planner.

After retirement he moved to Amarillo, Weatherford, then Corpus Christi where his green thumb reached a magical dimension. He was a confectioner and also designed and crafted furniture.

Mr. Holley was preceded in death by wife Mary Ella Frampton Holley and his parents Marlin Wesley Holley and Frances Elmira Stark Holley. He is also preceded in death by all of his siblings: Hubert, Arabelle, Blanche, Thomas Marlin, Sion, Evelyn, Frances Oleta, and Virginia.

He is survived by his son, Weldon Holley, and wife Sandy; daughter, Karon K. Connelly; Charlei Diwan Holley; and his rescue pal, Foxy. He is also survived by generations of grandchildren, nieces, cousins and best friend Mike Johnson.