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TAHLEQUAH - Holland, Charles Eldon "Pete" ,74, of Proctor, departed this life on Dec 16.
Born in Bixby, he was a 1956 graduate of Tulsa's Will Rogers H.S. A self-taught master welder and industrial machine repairman, Pete was a small business owner and entrepreneur. He was co-owner of the Skelly station by the Tulsa airport. He worked for many years at Industrial Equipment, eventually opening H&H Machine Tool, in Bixby, with his brother Glen.
Some years later, Holland Brothers Enterprises was created, which Pete ran with his wife, Gena May, and business partner Leon James. Pete and Gena retired in 2000 and then built their dream home on family land, in Proctor, where they loved entertaining friends and family.
Pete had a zest for life, enjoying many activities as an avid fisherman, gardener, hunter, great cook and pie baker, metal and woodworker, building his own sawmill, taking daily hikes in the hills and communing with nature. His motto was "busy hands are happy hands," and he completed countless projects. He loved reading mysteries, cowboy poetry and anything educational.
Always a man of his word, he was a shining example of how to conduct oneself in life with integrity, honesty, generosity, kindness and gentleness. Pete was fair and just, forthright, trustworthy and 100 percent genuine. He had the greatest sense of humor, with impeccable comedic timing and countless witticisms. A patriotic man, he was appreciative of our service people. A unique and rare gem, all who knew him loved him. There isn�t enough laughter in 10 lifetimes to fill the void his absence has left in our hearts.
Pete lost his first wife, Gena May, to pancreatic cancer in 2009, two days after their 50th wedding anniversary. His daughters were thrilled when he found a new love, Pam, bringing the sparkle and laughter back into his life. Pete and Pam were married in July 2011.
After an arduous four-month battle with renal carcinoma, Pete was ready for rest.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles William and Clara Anna, and his first wife, Gena May.
He is survived by his wife, Pam Anderson Holland; daughter Gena Holland Stretch, of Tahlequah; daughter Sheryl Myerley and husband Tom of Broken Arrow; brothers Robert Holland of Georgia, Glen Holland of Tulsa, Tom Holland of Bixby, and Russell Holland of Tulsa, eight brothers and sisters-in-law; 15 nieces and nephews; 31 great-nieces and nephews; many cousins and friends; his beloved dogs, Sissy and Cookie; and seven granddogs.
Special thanks to Geoff H., registered nurse at the Tahlequah City Hospital and Hope Hospice.
A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 29, at Arrowhead Resort, 7704 State Highway 10, Tahlequah. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Diabetes Association, The Nature Conservancy, Pancan.org, Veterans of Foreign Wars, or the Humane Society of Cherokee County.
Dad, we love you forever and ever! Happy fishing!
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