John Holland, Sr.

John “Ray” Holland, Sr., gentleman, deal chaser, grill master, kayaker and avid adventurer, passed away peacefully January 29, 2018. Living life to its fullest, Ray’s boundless enthusiasm and zest for life were only outweighed by his compassionate, giving heart. With an innate desire to help others—friends and strangers alike—Ray’s mantra was to do more than anyone else did, but with a positive attitude and a smile. Whether roaming the great outdoors and camping under the stars, hopping from garage sales, or hosting family gatherings, Ray never met a stranger and was kind to everyone he met. He loved serving his community and was always quick to lend a hand, or anything he had, to anyone in need.

Ray was immensely proud of his blended family and endearingly called them “The Brady Bunch.” He is survived by the love of his life, wife Sheila Shore Holland; sister, Brenda; children and step-children, John (Kathy), Jennifer, Jackie (Jim), Jennifer (Kevin), Winston (Saba) and Steve (Kim); grandchildren, Josh, Amelia, Lauren (Lionel), Ben, Caroline, Christian and Catherine; and great-grandson, John Woolf.

A celebration of Ray’s life will take place on Friday, February 2, 2018. The visitation is at noon, and the funeral service is at 1 pm at Quinn-Shalz Family Funeral Home, 3600 3rd Street, South, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250. The burial will follow at Beaches Memorial Park, 1500 Main Street, Atlantic Beach, FL 32233. No black attire, please.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Hartfelt Ministries, www.hartfelt.org, where Ray volunteered by mowing grass for the elderly. Also, in Ray’s honor, the next time you buy something, be sure to haggle for the best price—he would have enjoyed that.