Louie Morris Holcombe, Jr. of Decatur, Alabama, passed away at the age of 81 after complications from cancer on January 17th, 2024, surrounded by his wife Linda and children Audra and Todd. Louie (fondly known as “Bootie” or “Sweet Lou” by many family and friends) was born on August 3rd, 1942 in Cleveland, Alabama to Louie (Boots) Morris Holcombe, Sr. and Marjorie Copeland Holcombe. He spent most of his childhood in Cleveland, then later on a farm in nearby Onteonta. Lou married in 1962 and soon moved to Birmingham then Decatur, Alabama in the early 1970s in pursuit of his career in metal building construction. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to become the owner of Inscho Building Associates and later The Building Company, and was a strong contributor to the construction industry throughout Alabama and surrounding states for more than 40 years. He was involved with local businesses and his community throughout his career and into his retirement.
Louie was an avid golfer, camper, Alabama fan, wood worker and small-plane pilot. He was a former member of The Decatur Country Club and a current member of Burning Tree Country Club where he played golf with family and friends for most of his life. He loved traveling and playing tournaments with friends, but especially enjoyed playing a round with his son. It was a hobby that sustained him throughout his life.
He also loved traveling with his family in his RV. From his first experiment with a mini motorhome, Lou found a passion for the RV life, stepping up to motor coaches that carried him around the country. He became an inventor – creating both a portable camping fire pit and the Exhaust Away RV exhaust system – selling these and other products at trade shows as a way to travel and meet people. In the last ten years, since leaving that business behind, he was able to make cross country excursions and enjoy extended travel from coast to coast with his wife Linda. Over decades he met and befriended people that became lifelong friends “because campgrounds are always full of such nice people.” Whenever he was missing at his campsite, you never had to walk far to find him chatting with someone new.
He was gregarious and loved swapping stories, many of which happened while cheering on his Crimson Tide. Lou was a life-long Alabama fan and spent decades tailgating in his RV watching the games and telling tales with friends. In later years, one of his favorite traditions was spending Thanksgiving at his family’s generational property Heritage Acres – affectionately referred to as “The Cove” – connecting with his Copeland relatives, riding four-wheelers and sitting around the fire ring. When Lou wasn’t traveling with his wife, or on the links swinging a club, you could find him in his woodshop “making sawdust” as he’d say, building anything from furniture to birdhouses, an interest he passed along and shared with his daughter and son.
Louie was a family man and devoted friend – a loyal son, committed husband, loving father, cherished nephew and cousin. He was the one to call and reach out “just to check in”. Each night you would find him on his back porch – his favorite place on earth – on the phone with his friends or family. He called them just to say hello, to laugh and cut up, to find out about their loved ones, to celebrate the good and support them in hard times. He was the voice you could always count on to call. For that he will be forever missed.
Louie is survived by his devoted wife Linda Flynn Holcombe, daughter Audra Lourie Holcombe Yesnach (Mark), son Todd Elgin Holcombe (Kris Riley) – his children with former wife Rebecca Elgin Falkner – along with his two beloved grandchildren Presley Faith Yesnach and Alexander Elgin Holcombe. He is also survived by chosen family – goddaughter Meghan Warner Owens, longtime neighbor and “adopted” sister Patricia Landers, and Linda’s daughter Cindy Allred (Anthony) and their family, (who affectionately called him LouLou) all who supported him in his later life. Lou was preceded in death by his parents, and wife of 30 years, Diane Ward Smith Holcombe, who also died of cancer in 2012.
Louie will be memorialized in a service on Sunday, January 28th at Shelton Funeral Home in Decatur, Alabama. The family will receive visitors from 1:00 to 2:00pm followed by a service for family and friends at 2:00. A private graveside service will follow.
In lieu of flowers please send memorial gifts to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or Ronald McDonald House.
