Harold Dean Holland, age 77, passed peacefully from his earthly life to be present with his Lord on Sunday morning, April 27, 2014. Dean was the youngest and last surviving child of Thomas Hill Holland and Mary Lavert Lawdermilk, whose families migrated from Georgia and Mississippi to Denton Valley, Callahan County, Texas around the turn of the century. Dean was born September 27, 1936 and lived his entire life in Big Spring, Texas. As a young man, he enjoyed raising chickens, playing baseball, varmint hunting, and fishing; and in his later years greatly enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and his closest friends during morning coffee sessions at McDonald’s. He retired as a gauger from the Pipeline Department of Fina Oil & Chemical Company in 1991.Dean married his sweetheart, Edna McCartney, on April 17, 1954; and they shared 60 years together, through good times and bad, sickness and health. Dean became a Christian when he was 32 years old and was a long-time member of Midway Baptist Church. He was an honorable father, husband and grandfather, instilling Christian values in his family and extended family. He is survived by his wife, Edna, all four of his children: Kaye Edwards of San Angelo, Judy Robertson and husband, Donald (“Ducky”), of Midland, Loy of Wasilla, Alaska, Linda Hale and husband, Kevin, of Collinsville, six grandchildren: John Edwards, Jeremy and Mindy Robertson, Brian Holland, Landon and Cody Hale, 5 great-grandchildren: Savannah, Torbyn, Luke and Beau Waltenbaugh, and numerous nieces and nephews.There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother (Prov. 18:24b), and for Dean, this friend was Roosevelt Shaw. Thank you, our friend in Christ, for your loyalty to our loved one. He was blessed by your abiding friendship.Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home, with family visitation from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at the funeral home in Big Spring, Texas. Services will be in the Rosewood Chapel at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 30, 2014 with interment at Trinity Memorial Park. The family suggests memorials be made to a favorite charity. Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com,
