George Booksh Holliday, Sr. died peacefully from complications of Alzheimer’s disease on December 25, 2012, early Christmas morning.  He was born on June 19, 1926, in Grosse Tete, Louisiana, the youngest child of Mr. And Mrs.  P. W. Holliday, Sr.  

George graduated from Shady Grove High School and enlisted in the Navy near the end of World War II.  After the war, he graduated from Louisiana State University with a degree in mechanical engineering and married Elizabeth Brown in 1949. They moved to Beaumont, where he worked his way up to become superintendent of maintenance at Pure/Union Oil Refinery in Nederland.  After retiring from Union Oil, he went on to have two more successful careers in hotel construction and management thanks to his nephew, Haywood H. Walker, of Beaumont.  

He has served in many leadership positions with Wesley United Methodist Church, the local chapter of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and the Best Western Association.  He and his family enjoyed church activities, traveling, fly fishing, and spending time together in the beautiful lake house he built on Toledo Bend. Due to failing health, he and his wife spent their final years in San Antonio with their sons and new friends at Morningside Manor Retirement Apartments.

Survivors include sons, George Holliday, Jr. and Dr. Stephen Holliday; daughter-in-law, Dr. Robin Brey; his beloved granddaughters, Dr. Emma Brey Holliday and Elizabeth Brey Holliday; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins in Texas and Louisiana.

A gathering of Mr. Holliday’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Friday, January 11, 2013, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont.  His funeral service will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 12, 2013, at Wesley United Methodist Church, 3810 North Major Drive, Beaumont.  A family committal will be held at Magnolia Cemetery, Beaumont.

 In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church, 3810 North Major Drive, Beaumont, Texas  77713 or Alzheimer’s Association, 700 North Street, Suite M, Beaumont, Texas  77701.

 The family is grateful for the loving support of family and friends over the years as well as his wonderful caregivers from Home Instead and Vitas Hospice of San Antonio.