Dennis Neal Holliday, 71, formerly of Hardin, died at 5:44 p.m., Monday, January 12, 2015 at Christian Northeast Hospital in St. Louis, MO surrounded by his loving family.
He was born on September 23, 1943 in St. Louis, MO, one of nine children born to the late Joseph and Nellie (McCardell) Holliday.
Dennis grew up in Glasgow Village in St. Louis County, graduating in 1961 from Riverview Gardens High School.
He went on to work General Motors, where he retired in 1991 as a Spot Welder after 26 years of devoted service.
He married the former Jerrie Rae Turcotte on October 29, 1962 and together they have been blessed 52 years of marriage.
He and Jerrie made their home in Glascoe Village for many years, where they raised their family, later moving to Hardin where they resided for nearly 22 years and recently had relocated to Jerseyville.
In his spare time, Dennis enjoyed carving, woodworking and playing cards. He was also an avid motorcycle enthusiast and thoroughly enjoyed attending various car shows throughout the area. Dennis loved to cook, and shared his skills with his daughter, assisting her in cooking in her former restaurant. Even after his health began to decline, he still would make his way into the kitchen and pull up to the stove and cook. More than anything, however, Dennis loved his family, and he cherished each and every moment he was able to spend with them, especially his grandchildren.
Surviving are his wife, Jerrie Holliday of Jerseyville; a son and daughter-in-law, Jeffrey Scott and Denise Holliday of Alton; a daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Richard Tepen of Jerseyville; four grandchildren, who were his absolute pride and joy, Hailea Rae Tepen; Jaclyn, Jake and Jamie Holliday; a great-grandson, Eli Carroll; three brothers and their spouses, Joe and Linda Holliday of Linn, MO; Bob and Joyce Holliday of St. Peters, MO and Craig and Donna Holliday of Jefferson City, MO; three sisters and their spouses, Paula and Jim Robbers of Florissant, MO; Judy Holliday of O’Fallon, MO and Sally and Bill Conreux of Lake Ozark, MO.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Pat and Paige Holliday.
Dennis was a very outgoing, sociable man who never knew a stranger. He had a genuine concern for others that even through all of his personal trials, never wavered. He always thought of others and put everyone else’s needs before his own and will be greatly missed by his family and all who had the honor of knowing him.
Per his wishes, cremation rights have been accorded.
A memorial visitation will be held on Friday, January 16, 2015 from 11 a.m. until time of Memorial Mass at 1 p.m. at the Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Jerseyville. Father William Hembrow will officiate.
Memorials in memory of Dennis may be given to the American Heart Association, in care of the funeral home.
Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville is in charge of arrangements