Gordon W. Holley

He was born February 7, 1937 in ­­­­­­­­­­­­Battle Creek, Michigan to George and Alberta Holley.  He leaves behind wife, Christine; sisters, Joan Gambaro  and Priscilla Agne; children Cindy (Michael) Fred, Shelly (Addison) Cowling, Mandy (Darrin) Chonos, Matthew Holley, Lory (Tom)Stewart, Tracy(Steve) Magyar and James (Janice) Maxey; grandchildren Mallory, Candace,  Austin (Jordan) and Brandon Fred, Holley (Clay) Quantz, Addison Dalton Cowling, Michael, Benjamin and Matthew Chonos, Jason Stewart, Rebecca (Tony) Yakle, Nikalos and Max Magyar, Wesley and Noah Maxey; great grandchildren Keelin Michael Jackson Fred, Waylon, Madeline and William Yakle and McKenna Stewart and second wife Barbara Estelle Donnelly.

He was preceded in death by his first wife Sandra Louise Holley whom he married on June 1, 1957, daughter, Theresa Lynn Holley, and brother, Daniel Holley.

Gordon was a life-long patriot, serving 12 years in the Michigan Air National Guard in Battle Creek.

Mr. Holley earned extra money for college working as a private investigator and radio disc jockey while attending Western Michigan University.  He enjoyed a long career in the manufactured home industry, moving to Goshen in 1970 and became well known in the industry for his layout and design skills.  A significant portion of his career was spent at Liberty Homes in Goshen, Indiana.

Gordon was an amateur photographer and could routinely be spotted taking pictures of his children and their friends at Concord High School events.

Gordon had a passion for music and was a well-known musician and arranger in the area.  Watching his mother play organ in the church, his love of music began at a very young age.  He began studying piano at age 5.  He started his first dance band during Junior High, and was very active in the music department at Battle Creek Central High School where he was proud to be the Drum Major.  He continued in music his entire adult life, playing in, arranging for and leading multiple bands.  He was a pioneer in church contemporary worship, starting a successful, contemporary young adult choir and band at Dunlap UMC in the 1970s.   He was an excellent jazz pianist, playing with The Jazz Assemblage, The Truth in Jazz and performing at the Elkhart Jazz Festival.  In retirement, Gordon taught himself to rebuild and tune pianos.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Harbor Light Hospice, 1608 E. Day Road, Mishawaka, IN 46545.

The family will receive visitors at Osceola United Methodist Church, 431 N. Beech Road, in Osceola, IN Saturday, April 23 from 10-11 am with a memorial service following.