Joseph (“Joe”) Holley blessed this earth for 88 years with his calm, humble spirit. His life began in Wetumpka, AL on May 19, 1935, and ended in his home, surrounded by family, in Huntsville, AL on March 5, 2024, after a lengthy battle with cancer.
He is survived by his wife, Willodean Ruff Holley; daughters, Ellen Holley Burnette (Richard), Jane Elizabeth Holley, and Martha Ann Holley; grandchildren, Kaitlin Olivia Cordova, Jesse David Burnette (Lauren), Elizabeth Cordova McGee (Seth), Benjamin Crawford Burnette, and William McDonald Burnette; and great-grandchildren, Joseph and Samuel McGee, and David and James Burnette. He is preceded in death by his parents, James Monroe Holley and Mildred Dowling Holley, and brothers, James Holley, Warren Holley, and John Holley.
If Joe were given a name of notoriety, it would be the “Coosa Kid.” He was a fisherman from childhood into old age, most often fly fishing from a humble johnboat as he rode the currents of the Coosa River.
Joe graduated from Auburn University with his B.S. in Chemical Engineering. In 1958 he married Willodean and they moved to his first job in Charleston, West Virginia for a short time before settling in Huntsville, AL in 1959. Joe worked as an engineer at Thiokol Chemical Company (now Northrop Grumman) until his retirement in 1996.
He was married to Willodean for 65 years. He was a devoted husband and father, and dedicated his life to providing for them with extraordinary love and care. Detailed spreadsheets were often involved.
He was a man of deep faith, and everyone who met him felt the fruit of that devotion. He faithfully and joyfully served in the church choir throughout his adult years. Teaching was a special gift and passion, which he used to teach Sunday School for many years.
In the sunset of his life, he identified a particular hymn as a deep means of grace: “Jesus Paid it All.” Despite his hearing loss, when he heard the choir at First Baptist Church of Huntsville sing this beautiful song, he felt he could be lifted into the arms of Jesus with peace in his heart.
And when before the throne,
I stand in Him complete,
‘Jesus died, my soul to save’
my lips shall still repeat.
Jesus paid it all;
all to Him I owe.
Sin had left a crimson stain;
He washed it white as snow.
Joe’s family takes comfort in knowing that he is now made whole in the presence of Jesus and can joyfully sing his praises for eternity.
On Saturday, April 6, Joe’s family and friends will celebrate his life. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m., followed by a service at 11:00 a.m., both held at First Baptist Church in the Chapel, 600 Governors Drive in Huntsville with Rev. Jud Reasons officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Clearview Cancer Institute through the Russell Hill Cancer Foundation (https://www.clearviewcancer.com/donate/) or to Cultivate Abundance, a non-profit organization addressing food insecurity in farmworker communities (https://www.cultivateabundance.org/donate).
