Esther Mae Holladay

Esther Mae Holladay, 63, El Dorado Springs, passed away at her home in El Dorado Springs, on Monday, Dec. 17, 2007, following a sudden illness. She was born Oct. 20, 1944, in Nevada, to Charles Theodore Collins and Carrie Lucille Ellifrits Collins. She married Robert Holladay on Nov. 20, 1976, in Joplin, and he survives of the home.

Esther was born and reared in Nevada and spent most all of her life in this area. She was of the Pentecostal faith. Esther worked for many years as a truck driver with her husband Robert. She had a wonderful sense of humor.

In addition to her husband Robert, she is survived by two sons, Charles Monroe, of Fort Scott, and Joshua Holladay; four daughters, Carolyn Kay Monroe, Fort Scott, Elizabeth Cartwright, El Dorado Springs, Carrie Hardesty, Duenweg, Mo., and Jamie Holladay, El Dorado, Kan.; 12 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren; five brothers, Cecil Collins, Redding, Calif., Sonny Collins, Illinois state, Clyde Collins, Springfield, Larry Collins, Jacksonville, Ala., and Bill Collins, Illinois state; three sisters, Ann Jadlot, Nevada, Carol Garrett, El Dorado Springs, and Georgett Collins, Nevada. She was preceded in death by one son, Jeffrey Holladay, three brothers, and two sisters.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., on Thursday, Dec. 20, at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada, with the Rev. James A. Coleman officiating. Interment will follow in Moore Cemetery, Nevada. Friends may call now and until the hour of service and the family receives 7-8 p.m., Wednesday evening, Dec. 19, at the funeral home.

Those who wish may contribute in her memory to the National Kidney Foundation in care of Ferry Funeral Home.