Mary Holliday

Mary Elizabeth “Beth” Freeman Holliday

January 8, 1943, Waco Texas - March 27, 2021, Waxahachie, TX

Funeral services will be held by Livestream through Wayne Boze Funeral Home in Waxahachie Texas  on April 10, 2021 at 10:00 am Central Time.

Beth was born on January 8, 1943, in Waco, TX, to Oscar Grady Freeman and Ola Lee Smith.  Her father repaired cotton gins for the John E. Mitchell Company across the southwestern United States.  Her mother taught Spanish for many years at Waco High School.  Beth grew up in Waco where she learned ballet, tap dance, and how to play the piano.  She was a Rainbow Girl during her late teens.  Beth graduated from Waco High School in May of 1960, where she lettered in Debate.  She earned her teaching degree from the University of Texas at Austin.  While there, she agreed to a blind date, where she met the love of her life, Dale Vance “Van” Holliday.  The couple were married in Waco on June 1, 1962.  Their loving marriage lasted for over 47 years.  The two had a rich life together with many adventures for nearly 50 years.  Upon graduation in 1963, Beth taught high school.  Beth and Van welcomed their first daughter, Kathryn Anne in November 1964.  The following year, Van’s graduate studies and his work in oceanography and sonar took the family to San Diego, CA where they remained until Van passed away in 2010.  Beth quickly learned to love southern California, and especially loved being near the ocean.  They welcomed their second daughter, Karen Elizabeth in August 1968, and their third daughter, Mary Christine in December 1974.  Shortly after their arrival in San Diego, Beth and her husband joined the First Baptist Church of Pacific Beach where they formed lifelong friendships and were active members for over 46 years.  Beth felt blessed to be able to serve God in various ways; including as an accomplished musician and as an educator.  Beth began playing the piano for church services and soon after became the official church organist, a position she held for nearly 45 years.  Beth also served in various roles at the church affiliated Soledad Christian School.  Over the courses of 13 years she served as a book keeper, office administrator, and principal. She officially retired in 1997.  In 2011, a year following the death of her spouse, Beth returned to her native Texas and settled in Waxahachie in order to be closer to family.  Although she believed she would never leave the seaside, she exchanged the blue waves of the Pacific Ocean for the blue waves of bluebonnets in the open Texas fields.  She soon joined the Park Meadows Baptist Church where she enjoyed attending services and spending time with her new church family.  In her later years, she frequently commented on how happy she felt in her new home.  Beth was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend.  She is survived by her three children and their families:  Kathryn Bento of Waxahachie, TX; Karen and Jim Lindquist of Glen Mills, PA, and Christy and Corey Carroll of Corona, CA.  She is also survived by five grandchildren; Hannah, Sarah and Joseph Bento, and Caleb and Corbin Carroll.  She is now rejoicing in heaven with her husband, two sisters, her brother, and her granddaughter Kaitlyn Lindquist.  In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations may be made to the music funds of either First Baptist Church of Pacific Beach in San Diego, CA (https://firstpb.org ), or Park Meadows Baptist Church in Waxahachie, TX (https://parkmeadows.org ).  Donations may also be made to support NOAA through Ocean Conservancy (oceanconservancy.org ).