Ivan Forrest Holder, of Owens Cross Roads, Alabama, went to his heavenly home on June 9, 2025, at Hospice Family Care. Ivan was born in Fayetteville, TN, to Joe Holder and Aileen (Frame) Jacques on September 12, 1965. He was a 1984 graduate of Butler High School. Ivan had a wonderful early career at Parisian department store and at LunaTech Pyrotechnics. While working at Parisian, Ivan met Christie in 1995, and they would later marry in 1998. It was not until he found a new career in his mid-forties that he truly found his calling. Ivan became a nurse in 2011, where he impacted the lives of so many patients and fellow caregivers. In his 14 years in long-term care, he was truly a shining light to all he touched.
Ivan also loved being a coach and coached little league football and baseball prior to his own children being born. Once his girls came along, he continued to impact other young girls as a softball coach and mentor. Ivan was also an avid musician and loved playing bass guitar. He supported the local music scene in the Huntsville area, as well as playing in the praise band at Jackson Way Baptist Church.
Ivan’s greatest love was his family, as everywhere he went, he was always talking about his girls and how much he loved to travel and spend time with them. He was an incredible girl dad, as Paityn and Savannah were truly his greatest blessing. When the girls were younger, he was their best “spa guest” as they gave him facials and painted his finger and toenails. Once the girls grew older, he progressed to the softball diamond and the bucket, as he spent countless hours helping his girls be the best softball players they could be.
Ivan is survived by his loving wife of 27 years, Christie (Cobbs) Holder, his daughters Paityn Elizabeth and Savannah Grace, of Owens Cross Roads; mother, Aileen (Frame) Jacques of Huntsville; sisters, Tangie Holder and Rozella Holder, both of Huntsville; brother-in-law, Ralph Gesin; nieces, Lauren Carpenter and Terra Jeffrey (John Verchot); nephews, John Carpenter and Parker Jeffrey. He is also survived by his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Charles and Barbara Cobbs; sister-in-law, Sheri (Cobbs) Smith; brother-in-law, Robert Cobbs and his wife Megan, and nephews, Carter, Maddox, and Charlie.
Ivan is preceded in death by his father, Joe Parker Holder; his sister, Cleijo (Holder) Gesin; and stepfather, Daniel Jacques.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, June 14, at Jackson Way Baptist Church at 2:00 PM, with the family receiving guests from 12:00 to 2:00 PM.
Ivan’s family would like to thank Dr. Jorge Diaz and the remarkable nurses and staff at Clearview Cancer Institute, all the wonderful nurses and staff at Huntsville Hospital Oncology, and the precious staff at Hospice Family Care. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Clearview Cancer Institute or Hospice Family Care. Final care has been entrusted to Berryhill Funeral Home in Huntsville, AL.
