Harry Shelton Holley

Harry Shelton Holley, 78, a resident of Luverne, Alabama, passed away peacefully in his home on Wednesday, October 29th, 2025. Funeral services for Harry will be held at 2 PM on Friday, October 31st, from the Chapel of Turners Funeral Home with Brother Randy Sexton officiating. He will then be laid to rest beside his beloved wife, Thelma, in the Holley Family section of Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 12:30 to 2 PM on Friday.

Harry was a proud graduate of Luverne High School, after which he held several different jobs that made use of his varied skill set. As a gifted mechanic who loved tinkering and rebuilding motors and carburetors so it's no surprise he became the head mechanic at Cob Kirklan for many years as well as the service manager for Tommy's Quick Lube. Later in life, he saw many different parts of the country as he worked as a night guard for the ESS Pipeline. Meanwhile, Harry had grown up on the family farm and spent much of his life doing the same, whether it was as a row crop farmer, growing broiler chickens for Sylvest Farms, or simply tending to his lovely yard, he loved doing it all. He especially enjoyed the time he was able to spend with his children as they participated in showing cattle & swine for their 4-H Club. He taught them a deep appreciation of the land and how their food was grown and/or raised that they will never forget.

There was no place Harry would rather have been than right by the side of the love of his life, his "Sweet" Thelma. From the trips they took together from the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans or going to watch his brother-in-law play the fiddle in a bluegrass band, he never failed to have a good time with her by his side. Of course, there's no place like home and Harry certainly loved to be in his, especially when surrounded by his beloved family. He was usually the entertainment of any event with his gregarious nature, fondness for dancing, singing, & silly faces, and phenomenal sense of humor. His love of life was simply infectious and it was just impossible not to have a good time when he was around. Make no mistake, however, Harry was a bit set in his ways since the only right way to do anything was his way, but his kindness and loving nature made him so special in the lives of all those who knew and loved him. Above all, he was a devoted husband, father, and Pop to the grandchildren and great-grandchildren who simply adored him with all of their hearts. Words cannot express how much he will be sorely missed but there is comfort to be found in the lifetime of fond memories they made together.

Harry was preceded in death by his cherished wife of 50 years, Thelma Spurlock Holley; parents, Luther Grady and Luette Davis Holley; and sisters, Betty Holley, Nelda Little, and Joyce Holley. He is survived by his children, Stanley (Dawn) Holley, Cindy (David) Lester, and Todd (Samantha) Holley; grandchildren, Blake (Hannah) Holley, Paige (Justin) Ray, Levi Holley, Emily (Preston) Worley, Kaleigh Holley, Addison Holley, Annabelle Holley, Madilyn Jones; great-grandchildren, Kortlyn Blake Holley, Kessy Brooke Holley, Mister Holley, Myles Ray, Parker Ray, Presleigh Worley, Riggs Worley, Kiley Jordan, and Kaley Jordan; siblings, Grady Holley, Charlotte (Ben) Barganier, and Margaret Peacock; and a host of special nieces & nephews, extended family members, and friends.

Active pallbearers will be Blake Holley, Levi Holley, John Rushing, Randy Rushing, Jason Rushing, Tim Faulk, Cory McElwain, and Stevie Taylor.