Former Monroeville resident James Holley died Monday afternoon after falling from a tree stand on family property between Thomaston and Linden in Marengo County, Ala.
According to Marengo County Coroner John Scott, the 74-year-old Holley “was on the tree stand when it gave way causing him to fall approximately 8 feet” resulting in his death. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
“He was marking trees for the logging crew to cut,” Jeffrey Holley, his son, said. “He was trying to take the tree stand down so the tree could be cut and he fell.”
Holley lived in Monroeville for 37 years moving here in 1978 with his family. The forester took a job with Allied Paper, now Boise Cascade in Jackson, and worked at that location and a logging site in Frisco City for about 28 years.
In 2006, Holley changed jobs and began work for TimberVest, Investment Properties, Forest Management and Consulting of Atlanta, Ga. Holley was primarily responsible for purchasing land in Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee.
Holley graduated from Auburn University in 1966 with a B.S. degree in Forestry.
He served in the U.S. Army and retired as a Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves.
He was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Monroeville where he served as a deacon and a Sunday School teacher. After moving from Monroeville he became an active member of the Dawson Memorial Baptist Church in Homewood, Ala.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Carolyn Geiger Holley.
“He adored my mother,” Jeffrey Holley said. “He doted on her. He loved our family and church family. But he loved Jesus Christ first.”
He is survived by four children: Kimberly Holley Felts, (Marty); Jeffrey Holley, (Laura); Caroline Holley Schultz, (Brandon) and Jason Holley. (Kari).
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Friday, July 5 with visitation two hours earlier from noon until 2 p.m. at Dawson Memorial Church in Homewood, Ala.
