John Holliday

John Mitchell Holliday, 81, of Casa Grande died on Jan. 12, 2014, at home.

The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Hoover-Hall Memorial Chapel in Monmouth, Ill., with the Rev. Jon Sims of First United Methodist Church officiating, and visitation one hour prior. Burial will be in Warren County Memorial Park.

Mr. Holliday was born on June 30, 1932, in Monmouth and was a son of Mitchell and Frances H. (Boggs) Holliday. He was raised in Monmouth, attended Monmouth College and graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago. He married Margaret Firoved on Dec. 17, 1954, in Monmouth. He first owned and operated Holliday and Hoover Memorial Chapel in Monmouth with his brother, William Holliday, and Wm. C. Hoover until 1965. He then operated funeral homes in Bartonville, Roberts and Paxton, Ill., until retiring in 1993.

He moved to Oquawka, Ill., then to Arizona in 2001. He enjoyed playing golf and was a lifelong member of Lions and also was a Mason.

Survivors include a daughter, Frances L. Reinier of Steamboat Springs, Colo.; two sons, James M. Holliday of Bartonville and William B. Holliday of Sibley, Ill.; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, in 1999, and his brother, William.

Memorial contributions may be made to Delabar-Mississippi River Youth Park at hooverhall.com.

J. Warren Funeral Services, Cole & Maud The Gardens Chapel was in charge of local arrangements.