Hazel McKee Holloway

A Memorial Mass celebrating the life of Mrs. Hazel McKee Holloway, 85, of Monroe, Louisiana, will be held at 10:00 A.M., Friday, June 16, 2023, at Jesus the Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Monroe, Louisiana, with Fr. Tobias Obado officiating. Visitation will be held at the church from 9:00 A.M. until service time.

Hazel was born November 30, 1937, in Wisner, Louisiana, the tenth of eleven children born to Duncan Roy and Lucy Lee Smith McKee. With grace, she passed peacefully from this life to the next on May 27, 2023, in Monroe, Louisiana.

Poised with an impeccable sense of style— even more so toward the end— favorably adding a layer of intrigue to her already interesting presence, she was affectionately known as “Grandmommy” to her grandchildren and to many dear friends. Her quick wit and contagious laughter gave her the ability to light up any room. While exhibiting a gentle and demure nature for the majority of her life, in her later years, she took great pride in her bossy attitude and her love of Van Morrison. Every holiday was made special by her festive decorations and natural intuition for cooking.  There will surely be an ever-present stillness in each day lived without her as she leaves behind a lasting impact on all who were blessed to have known her.

She wholeheartedly devoted herself to the love of her five children, Beth Holloway of Smithville, MO; Lori McJunkins and husband Trent of Monroe, LA; Brad Holloway of Monroe, LA; Kyra Quenan and husband Steve of Georgetown, TX; and Greg Holloway and wife Norma of Seabrook, TX. That love and devotion extended effortlessly to her daughter-in-law, Shannon Holloway of Monroe, LA; and to her beloved five grandchildren of whom she was exceedingly proud, Harrison Holloway, Christian Holloway, Isabella McJunkins, Mary Grace Holloway and Lily Holloway.

Hazel was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Roscoe McKee and Ed McKee; and sisters, Flora Thogmartin, Frankie Mather, Maggie Stephens, Betty Holder, Ruby Hilton, Haven Hemphill, and Ethel Hemphill, as well as, the father of their children, Frank Holloway; brother-in-law, Leon Holloway; and by her parents-in-law, Frank A. (Red) and Myrtle Robinson Holloway.

Survivors include her children, grandchildren, and sister, Melba Scott of Monroe, Louisiana. Hazel is further survived by sisters-in-law, Dee Barfield of Gilbert, LA; Marie NeSmith of Gilbert, LA; and Georgia Massey of Carthage, TX along with many adored nieces and nephews.

Being an avid reader and nurturing a love for art, she was continuously learning, thus providing words of wisdom. Now that her time has come, we must accept that our loved one has passed from this present, temporary life to a perfect, permanent one. She who knew God in faith on earth now sees the Lord face-to-face in heaven. While death separates us, we will one day be reunited with all those we love in a “dwelling provided for us by God, a dwelling in the heavens, not made by hands but to last forever” (2 Corinthians 5:1). Let us not cry over the past; it’s gone. Let us not stress about the future; it hasn’t arrived. Live in the present and make it beautiful.

The family would like to praise and offer thanks to special care givers and friends: Chaplain Elizabeth Williams, Don Decatur, Nurse Lena Hicks, Nurse Kendy Walton, CNA Evelyn Davis, CNA Kenderica Wilson, Elara Hospice, Glenn Grace, and Karen Gibbons. When her burden was heavy and our hearts were troubled, you were the light.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Humane Society or a local animal shelter of choice.