Dubberly, LA

Walter B. "Walt"

Holley

Funeral services for Walter B. "Walt" Holley will be held Monday, September 28, 2015 at 10 a.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Judy Bazer and Rev. Mark Benge officiating. Interment will follow at Brushwood Cemetery in Dubberly. The family will receive friends from 5 until 7 p.m. Sunday, September 27, 2015 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Minden. Mr. Holley was born August 14, 1918 in Coushatta, Louisiana and died suddenly on September 24, 2015, at age of 97, while living at the Northwest Louisiana War Veterans Home in Bossier City, where he had been since January 2014. He was a native of Coushatta, graduated from Dubberly High School in 1936, attended Louisiana Tech at Ruston until 1940 when he entered the United States Air Force for a five- year period. He was stationed in England during World War II and flew missions in a B-24 Liberator, providing air cover for convoys. After his release from active duty in Europe, he married Doris Perot in 1945 until her death January 19, 2002. He entered Centenary College at Shreveport where he received his degree in engineering. Walt started as a geological draftsman for Amoco before taking a position with Lion Oil in 1952 as a regional scout. After Lion merged with Monsanto Chemical Co. He moved to Houston and took early retirement from Monsanto Co. in 1963. Walt worked as an independent landman many years for many companies and ended his career as district landman for McRae-Petrofunds in Shreveport. After his retirement, Walt took great joy in managing the family farm and overseeing the herd and hay fields. He was a member of the Heflin United Methodist Church for 53 years, where he was men's Sunday school teacher for more than 20 years. He was a cattle farmer, a member of the Webster Parish School Board for 20 years, serving as president for several years, Ark-La-Tex Association of Petroleum Landmen, American Association of Petroleum Landmen, Oil Scouts Association, and was elected first vice president of National Oil Scouts and Landmen's Association in 1957, a member of Webster Parish Cattleman's Association, National Cattlemen's Beef Association, American Legion, and Veterans of Foreign Wars. "B" as he was called by many and Paw by his family had an uncanny way with training his family dogs. Maw said he loved his dogs more than her. As a very articulate professional he was well respected in the oil and gas industry. There was rarely a Sunday that he missed church and took up the collection until he was 93. Paw loved his family and his grandchildren very much and was always interested in their activities. He was a most generous man and very dedicated to his church and Lord. He was preceded in death by his father Phillip Holley, Sr. and mother Ella Brewer Holley; wife Doris Holley; brothers Aubrey, Doyle, Bobby, and Phillip Holley, Jr., and sister Effie Smith Connell. He is survived by his son Harold Holley and wife Sally; granddaughter Kelly Walraven and husband Brock; grandson Ken Holley and wife Kristi; great grandchildren, Tyler and Trent Walraven, Haidyn and Jewel Holley, sister Ella Upshaw, sisters-in-law Elenor Holley and Rita Holley, and a host of nephews and nieces. Pallbearers will be Brock Walraven, Haidyn Holley, Tyler Walraven, Trent Walraven, James A. Holley, Jerry Holley, Joe Holley, and Gary Smith. Special thanks to the staff and Dr. Fleniken of NW Louisiana War Veterans Home and Kelly Walraven for their care.