Gerald Slay Holliday
February 25, 1931 — February 23, 2024
Shreveport
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Past Services
Visitation
Memorial Service
Broadmoor United Methodist Church
Friday, April 5, 2024
Starts at 9:30 am (Central time)
Graveside Service
Gerald Slay Holliday
Gerald was born on February 25, 1931, in Hollister, Missouri to Admiral Schley Holliday and Eva Mabel Diane Holliday and passed away on February 23, 2024.
Gerald was a resident of Shreveport, Louisiana. He graduated from Hollister, Missouri High School in 1948 and Drury College in Springfield, Missouri in 1950. He married the love of his life, Ms. Welcome Mercedes Reeves on July 18, 1952. Gerald was in the United States Air Force at Scott Air Base, Illinois from 1950-1954. He was honorably discharged in 1954 as Staff Sargeant, Aircraft Radio Repairman. He worked for the Federal Aviation Administration, US Dept. of Transportation for 36 years, 11 months and retired in January 1988. He received the FAA Flight Safety Award. He was a licensed private pilot. He graduated from the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma as a technical training specialist. He also was in the Civil Air Patrol, US Air Force Auxiliary where he received the Distinguished Service Medal as Commander, Missouri Wing, November 1981-November 1986, 1985: Kansas City, Missouri Mayor/City Council Recognition, Commander’s Commendation Award, 1988: Certificate of Appreciation, Outstanding Support of National CAP/FAA Check Pilot Standardization Course, and established Cadet Endowment Fund to provide financial assistance for young cadets with flying lessons, etc. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Wesla Federal Credit Union in Shreveport, Louisiana.
His hobbies included piloting, fishing, enjoying nieces, nephews, and grandchildren. His passions were the Civil Air Patrol Cadets and proper pilot training. He was a humble, generous man and was very diligent in his work.
Gerald is preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 69 years, Welcome; brothers, J.C. Holliday, Loy Joe Holliday; and sister, Marilyn Holliday Saladin. Left to cherish his memory is his daughter, Cindy Van Arsdale and husband, Jim, of Hanover, MA; granddaughter, Sarah Kleberg and husband, Dan, and their daughter, Eleanor, of Hanover, MA; grandson, John Van Arsdale and wife, Corinne, of Newburgh, New York; brother, Don Holliday and wife, Susan, of Nixa, MO; and sister-in-law, Helen Holliday, of Springfield, MO.
The family is grateful for the compassion and prayers of so many. Thank you to the staff of Savannah at The Oaks where Gerald and Welcome enjoyed living. We appreciate the staff of Magnolia Manor and Lifepath Hospice. We are thankful for Jennifer Kimball for her nursing care management with lots of love, laughter, and encouragement, including tomato plants, birdwatching, and Sudoku.
In lieu of flowers, please consider supporting Broadmoor United Methodist Church, or the Congregational Care Fund. Another way to honor Gerald is with support of the Missouri Wing, CAP. Gerald established the cadet endowment fund for new cadets to see that as many as able learned to fly and serve. Missouri Wing will direct any donations to Col. Holliday’s Fund. Checks payable to Missouri Wing Civil Air Patrol with a memo for “Col. Holliday Fund” to the following address: MO Wing CAP, PO Box 5044, Whiteman AFB, MO 65305.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Gerald Slay Holliday, please visit our flower store.
Past Services
Visitation
Friday, April 5, 2024
9:00 - 9:30 am (Central time)
Broadmoor United Methodist Church
Memorial Service
Friday, April 5, 2024
Starts at 9:30 am (Central time)
Broadmoor United Methodist Church
Graveside Service
Friday, April 5, 2024
11:30am - 12:00 pm (Central time)
NWLA VETERANS CEMETERY
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