Stephen J. Holliday, 83, of Columbus (formerly of Beaufort, South Carolina, and Salem, Indiana), passed peacefully surrounded by his family at 7:15 a.m., Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023.
He was born March 1, 1940, in Elwood, Indiana, to George and Mary Holliday, who preceded him in death. Also preceding him were his wife, Kathleen Ann (Murray) Holliday; one son, Michael Andrew Holliday; brothers Patrick Williams, George Holliday, and Michael “Mickey” Holliday; and sisters Doris (Williams) Updegraff, and Mary Lou (Williams) Hankley,
Survivors include his wife, Vera Gillum Holliday; daughters Frances Holliday (John Keane), Arvada, Colorado; Amy (Jon) Daniels, Brodhead, Wisconsin; Elizabeth (David) Moncado, Port Royal, South Carolina; Mary Holliday, Beaufort, South Carolina; one stepson, Bradley Gillum, Carmel, Indiana; and one stepdaughter, Mitzi Price, Salem, Indiana. Surviving siblings include sisters Harriet (Holliday) York, Wisconsin; Jeanne (Holliday) Strittmatter, Florida; and brother Phillip Holliday, Florida. Also surviving are nine grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Mr. Holliday enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on Oct. 19, 1958, and served in Vietnam as well as at several overseas posts before retiring as a Master Gunnery Sergeant on Oct. 31, 1988. He attended St. Helena’s Anglican Church in Beaufort, S.C. with his wife Vera.
He married Kathleen Ann Murray Holliday on March 18, 1961, in Muncie, Indiana, and they raised their family at various posts around the United States as he advanced in his career as a Marine at home and abroad. They remained married until her death in 2003. On May 5, 2005, he married Vera (Gillum) Holliday, and they built a life together in South Carolina and Indiana before moving to Columbus in 2022.
Visitation will be held for family and friends on Friday, October 20 from 11am – 12:30pm in Cranmer Room at the St. Helena Parish Hall in downtown Beaufort. Funeral will be held at St. Helena’s at 1pm with services officiated by Rev. Shay Gaillard. Inurnment will be at Beaufort National Cemetery at 2pm next to his first wife, Kathleen Ann Holliday. Honor Guard and rifle volley will be provided by the South Carolina Department of Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society. Online condolences and special memories may be shared with Stephen’s family and a video tribute may be viewed at barkesweaverglick.com.
