John Stuart Holley Jr.

John Stuart Holley Jr. passed away peacefully while surrounded in the love of his family on Thursday, January 9, 2025 at Vitas IPU, St. Mary's Hospital. John now joins his wife Ruth (Durette) Holley who passed in March of 2024.  Born May 15, 1936 in Meriden, he was the son of the late John S. Holley Sr. and Margaret (O’Brien) Holley.

John honorably served in the US Navy during the Korean War, much of that time on the USS McGowan DD 678.  Upon return he achieved his associate’s degree from Post Community College and began his career at SNET working his way up to becoming a project manager, as well as designing complex fiber optic networks and systems. 

John and Ruth married in 1960 and were blessed with five children.  John was a dedicated, loving and down to earth man   He shared his joy, daily jokes and shenanigans with all who were blessed to know him.  He and Ruth spent many years dancing with the Pioneer Squares square dancing club.  He was a member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness CT division and served for many years on the Prospect Cemetery Association Board.  The log cabin built in Reading Vermont was his favorite place on earth.  The beauty of the countryside provided John with so much inspiration for his photography hobby. He was fond of spending days outdoors, cooking around the firepit and cutting wood after which he enjoyed a mug or two of his uniquely created “Mountain Boy Drink” while sitting by the fire.   John was the leader of the shenanigans. His children and grandchildren have so many happy memories of John.  His legacy is a rich tapestry of joy, faith and devotion to friends, family and community.

John is survived by his son Mark E. Holley and his wife Shelley, son James S. Holley, daughter Christine Holley and her husband Robert Schaff, and son Jeffrey J. Holley and his wife Anne Holley, as well as his six grandchildren:  Alexandra, Shane, Benjamin, Victoria, Thomas and Sarah. He is also survived by his brother Donald Holley and his wife Carol.  He was predeceased by his wife Ruth in 2024, his son Michael J. Holley in 2010 and sisters Constance Lovejoy, Harmony Mizeski and Margaret Dobush.

Funeral services in celebration of John’s life: Visitation: Wednesday, January 15, 2025 from 4 pm to 6pm at Prospect Memorial/The Palmerie Family Funeral Home, 122 Waterbury Rd., Prospect.  Funeral: Mass of Christian burial Thursday, January 16, 2025 at 10:30am at St. Anthony’s Church, 4 Union City Rd., Prospect with burial with military honors to immediately follow at Prospect Cemetery.  All those planning to attend mass are asked to meet directly at church.  Prospect Memorial/ The Palmerie Family Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with arrangements and to care for the Holley family.  Please visit prospectmemorial.com to share your favorite photos, memories and condolences. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to Tunnels 2 Towers at dogood.t2t.org are gratefully appreciated.

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