Juanita Holder, 88, of Advance, Mo., passed away in her home on Friday, August 18, 2017. Juanita was married to George William "Bill/Junior" Holder from 1949 until his passing in 1997.
Juanita was born in 1929 in Advance, Mo. as the daughter of Walter "Diz" Thompson and Dortha Angeline Tropf. Juanita graduated high school in Bell City, Mo. in 1946. She then earned her teaching degree by attending Southeast Missouri State University and Arkansas State University, all the while teaching school at Bell City and Randall, Mo.
Juanita then became a business woman when she and her husband opened the "The Place" which included the roller rink and later the swimming pool on Hwy O. They also purchased a grocery store in Advance on W. Sturdivant Street.
Juanita was very active in the community beginning at a young age; she belonged to the Pleasant Hill Church and later the Advance Methodist Church where she was the pianist and choir director for over 50 years. She belonged to the Order of the Eastern Star and held many offices during her 50 years of participation including, but not limited to, Grand Matron, Worthy Grand Organist of Missouri and Missouri State Representative to the State of Wisconsin as recent as 2015/2016.
Juanita began her participation early on in the Democrat Party and belonged to the Ladies Democrat Club of Stoddard County for years where she served several terms as President, Secretary and Treasurer. She also belonged to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxillary for more than 50 years, the Arts Council of South East Missouri and the Stoddard County Historical Society. As those who knew her will attest, Juanita was a historian herself and was always ready with an interesting story about the history of her life and her community which she held so dear.
Juanita was also dedicated to many other benevolent organizations and clubs to benefit the community, children, education and conservation and could always be counted on in a time of need. Juanita was always willing to help others when a party or event was involved from donating time, food and, of course, her music. While her family was her love, Music was her passion throughout life beginning at a very young age. She often recounted taking piano lessons during the summer at a tender age and her first guitar which her grandfather bought her at age 5.
During her life, first and foremost, Juanita Holder was a Musician who played piano and sang her way across the state of Missouri and back. Music was in her heritage and she passed this love of music on to her children, grandchildren and her great grandchildren as well as others in the community to whom she also taught to play piano. Juanita leaves a legacy of music throughout the State of Missouri and beyond that will be remembered by those who heard her play her beautiful music as a piano player, songstress and lyricist. Juanita composed many songs about her friends, family and her times in Hawaii where she enjoyed listening to the waves roll onto the beach for hours.
Juanita was preceded in death by her husband, parents and sister. Juanita's was the matriarch of her family who was greatly loved and highly respected by those she leaves behind including four children Fara Lynn McSpadden of Cape Girardeau, Mo.; Jo Nyla West and her husband Jim of Pahoa, HI; Gayle Elizabeth Cantrell and her husband Rodney of Advance, Mo.; and Ryan William Holder and his wife Terri of Pahoa, HI; 11 grandchildren Elizabeth Moore, Phoebe Roper, Autumn Demopoulos, Leah King, George "Joshua" Corbin, John McSpadden, Seth Cantrell, Aaron Cantrell, Jesse Holder, Ethan Holder, Zachary Holder, and 15 great grandchildren Morgan Roper, Nikolaos Demopoulos, Astraia Demopoulos, Ioanna Demopoulos, Allie Cantrell, Camielle Holder, Colbey Roper, Sophie Cantrell, Brendan Thornberry, Andrue King, Kaileigh King, Archie Cantrell and Avery Cantrell and many other children in the community whom she cared for in her lifetime.
Juanita will be missed by so many and her family invites all of those who knew and loved her to a memorial service being held in her honor at Pleasant Hill Church at Tilman, Mo. on Saturday, August 26, 2017 at 11:00 a.m.
Pleasant Hill Church which was a special place to Juanita during her lifetime including attending church as a young girl listening to her grandfather preach services, marrying her beloved and countless years of dedication to the preservation and care of the church until her passing. In lieu of sending flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to the Pleasant Hill Church in her memory through the Bank of Advance.
