Jack Ray Holley

JACK RAY HOLLEY, 65, of TAMPA, FLORIDA, passed away on DECEMBER 21, 2022, in FLORAL CITY, FLORIDA.

JACK was born in TAMPA to BUCK AND COLLEEN HOLLEY on AUGUST 12, 1957. He went to high school at HILLSBOROUGH HIGH SCHOOL and graduated in 1975. He went on to work for Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company for several years before working with his brothers in the flooring business and then for Georgia Highway. After this, he became the CHIEF MECHANIC for HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE where he worked for 23 YEARS.

He lived a life of adventure and excitement and was a friend to everyone he met. In his youth, he enjoyed spending time with his friends by going camping, fishing, shooting guns and listening to 80’s music. He had a huge smile, a big laugh and an even bigger heart. His adventurous spirit was unmatched and this carried through in his love for Star Trek, outer space and NASA. He was an avid fan of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and was so proud to be able to watch them win the Super Bowl twice. He also loved traveling and seeing new things. Some of his favorite places include vacationing in Savannah with his wife, honeymooning in Las Vegas, spending the holidays in Georgia, long weekends at the beach with his sisters and relaxing in the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee. In 2019, he was able to fulfill a lifelong dream of traveling to Ireland with his wife, nephew and niece which he described as one of the most transcendent experiences of his life. He enjoyed spending time with his nephews Eddie, Tommy, and Lee, as well as his best friend, Ross. Jack was also a cat lover and considered his “kitties”, Boo, Mack, Hurley, Maggie, Artie and Albus as a part of the family; always making sure they had an acceptable amount of “crunchies”. He also enjoyed coffee on the porch every morning with his “sweetie”. Jack was an amazing man and any life that he touched was better for it. He will be sorely missed and always remembered for the love and light that he brought into the world.

JACK is survived by his WIFE, BARBARA of FLORAL CITY; BROTHER JEFF (ELAINE) HOLLEY, BROTHER JOE HOLLEY, SISTER KANDI HOLLEY, SONS DEAN GRAYSON AND SCOTT MAXWELL, SISTER-IN-LAW LINDA HOLLEY, NUMEROUS NIECES, NEPHEWS AND FRIENDS.

He is preceded in death by his PARENTS, BUCK AND COLLEEN HOLLEY, BROTHER CHUCK AND SISTER DEBBIE.

A celebration of life will be held at HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FIREFIGHTERS UNION HALL, LOCAL 2294, AT 5425 N. 59TH ST. IN TAMPA, FLORIDA on SATURDAY, JANUARY 7, 2023 at 11:00AM.

In lieu of flowers, monetary and item donations may be made to THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FIRE MUSEUM AT 15961 N. FLORIDA AVE. SUITE C. LUTZ, FLORIDA 33549 OR ON THE WEBSITE AT: https://www.hillsboroughfiremuseum.org/donations.

“SOMEONE ONCE TOLD ME THAT TIME WAS A PREDATOR THAT STALKED US ALL OUR LIVES. BUT I RATHER BELIEVE THAT TIME IS A COMPANION WHO GOES WITH US ON THE JOURNEY AND REMINDS US TO CHERISH EVERY MOMENT BECAUSE THEY’LLNEVER COME AGAIN.” -CAPT JEAN-LUC PICARD