Francis James "Pete" Holley died at the age of 89 in Snellville, Ga., on Thursday, Aug. 23, 2012 at Scepter Living Center of natural causes. Pete was a long time resident of Foley.
He was born in Tuskegee, Alabama on Sept. 15, 1922 to Mr. and Mrs. John Holley. He attended Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery. On Oct.15, 1942 he joined the Navy. After boot camp he served on the USS Birmingham and the USS Douglas H. Fox. After serving in the Navy for 3 years and being injured in the line of duty he received a purple heart. Upon returning from the war Pete married Imogene Pelham. They had one child John Leonard Holley. During his career Pete owned and operated Gateway Auto Parts and Holley Auto Parts in Foley. He loved sports, specifically baseball and golf. For decades he made the journey to Florida to watch the Atlanta Braves during spring training. He could often be found on the golf course with his close friends and his son. He loved being with his family. Their annual tradition of visiting Mexico beach for food, fellowship and fun was something he looked forward to all year. You could often find him washing dishes, taking the kids out for ice cream and avoiding the bright Florida sun. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, John and Suzanne Holley, of Lilburn, Ga.; his granddaughters Amanda Jones of Athens, Ga., and Caroline Womack of Norcross, Ga.; great-grandson Hunter Jones of Athens, and several nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church in Foley, on Oct. 20th at 3 p.m. A memorial fund has been established in Pete's memory at Smoke Rise Baptist Church c/o Tim Adcox 5901 Hugh Howell Road Stone Mountain, GA 30087 attn: Tijuana Water Project/Pete Holley Memorial.
