Tony J. Holley

ELKHART — Tony J. Holley, 61, of Elkhart, passed away peacefully following an extended illness at the Center for Hospice Care in Elkhart at 1:35 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017.

He was born Oct. 5, 1956, in Humbolt, Tennessee, to Lesley Holley of Elkhart and Margaret (Williamson) Holley Guerrero.

On April 12, 1975, he married Wanda L. Oakley in Elkhart. She survives at home.

Also surviving are his children, Christy (William Carlson) Bailey of Elkhart and Tony E. (Kara) Holley of Cromwell; grandchildren Brandon and Levi Holley, Kaitlyn and Gabrielle Bailey and Mylee Johnson, all of Elkhart, and Rayanna Holley of St. Petersburg, Florida; brother Bobby R. Holley of Elkhart; three stepsisters; and two stepbrothers.

Preceding him in death were sisters Sylvia Caroll and Margaret Coop and stepbrothers Mark and Mike Parsons.

Billings Funeral Home of Elkhart is honored to host Tony’s celebration of life services Monday, Jan. 8, 2018, beginning with a visitation at 11 a.m. followed by a service there at 1 p.m.

Pastor McNeal Stewart of the Canaan Baptist Church of Elkhart will officiate.

Burial will follow in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Osceola. Military honors will be rendered by U.S. Army Funeral Honor Guard and DAV No. 19.

A lifelong resident of Michiana, Tony worked more than 20 years as a mill operator at Western Rubber Manufacturing in Goshen.

He was a member of the Canaan Baptist Church, Elkhart DAV No. 19 and was an avid NASCAR/Jeff Gordon and Minnesota Vikings fan.

He loved playing pool, darts and horse shoes, as well as spending time with his family and friends and grilling out.

Whether it was attending church, playing video games at home or shuffleboard at the DAV, Tony felt most comfortable among those he knew and loved.

He was also a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in Germany.

Memorials may be given to the Humane Society of Elkhart County.

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