Eric Peter Holley

The world was made a brighter place by the life of Eric Peter Holley. Eric passed away into the arms of Jesus after a valiant battle with pancreatic cancer on March 26, 2024, at his family's cabin in Pine, Idaho, surrounded by his loved ones. He was the second child of Coral & Diane Holley, born in Modesto, California on October 10, 1967. One year and one day later, his only brother Michael was born. They were inseparable. As young boys they were hooligans with a zest for danger and adventure. Eric is also survived by his 3 sisters Carey, Brooke, and Erin. Erin was the boys' welcome tag along, happily adding to their mischief.

Eric lived in Fresno and Clovis, California during his early childhood. It was there that he developed his love for football, swimming, 4-H, and nature. He had many fond memories of 4-H and showing goats at the fair with his siblings. His football career as a defensive back began there, where he and his brother won their first football championship with their Pop Warner team in the California Raisin Bowl.

At 13 years old, his family relocated to Jerome, Idaho where he embraced the farm and ranch life. Eric was extremely active in school activities including track, football, swimming, speech and debate. He was a very competitive athlete. He ran the high hurdles for Jerome High, where he still holds the State record. Eric went on to play a vital role in winning the 1986 2A State Football championship for JHS.

Eric graduated from Jerome High in 1986 and accepted a football and track scholarship to Boise State University. In 1989, he transferred to Willamette University in Salem, Oregon on a football scholarship. Eric was an All-Conference Defensive Back, graduating in 1992 with adegree in Speech Communications.

After college, he worked in medical sales for several years living in LA, Fort Lauderdale and SLC. In Salt Lake, he met the love of his life, Christine Pavlovich. They married on December 11, 1999, in Kailua, Hawaii. He adopted her two boys from her previous marriage, Joshua and Jacob. Chris and Eric went on to have their son, Michael in 2001 and daughter, Faith in 2003 while living on Oahu, where he was a corporate executive for Pyxis and then Cerner corporations.

In 2004, the Holley family moved to Boise, Idaho living in the Hidden Springs neighborhood. In 2005, he quit his corporate job to start Oliver Finley Academy of Cosmetology. Eric was a financial wizard who grew the business, along with his partner Kurt Foote, into the largest cosmetology school in Idaho.

Eric was a devout Catholic, but after God and family, his greatest love was the 10 acres of land they purchased in 2007 just outside of their Hidden Springs community. Eric transformed the barren field into a family oasis, building a beautiful home and barn, putting in a 1/3-acre pond and planting many beautiful trees and plants. He could be frequently found outside on his tractor or ATV working on various projects on the property or in his greenhouse tending to his pomegranate, fig and papaya trees. He also raised organic grassfed Black Angus, lambs and goats.

Eric was an avid backcountry snowboarder and mountain biker. He also enjoyed bow hunting, fishing, river rafting, kayaking, wakeboarding and surfing. His competitive nature never faded. He played any game, but Monopoly and poker were his favorites. He played with the poker guys, including his best Boise buddy, Erby, in Hidden Springs often.

We would like to extend a special heartfelt thank you to his sister Erin, an accomplished ICU nurse who took excellent care of Eric from the first day of his diagnosis to the very end. Although he passed away so young, with all he worked so hard to accomplish, and all the love he gave, he lived at least two lives during his shortened time here on Earth.

Eric is survived by his wife, Chris; and their four children, Josh, Jake, Michael and Faith; his mother, Diane; brother, Mike; sisters, Carey (Todd), Brooke (Francisco) and Erin (Andrew); mother-in-law, Sandy; brothers-in-law, Greg (Terri), Mike (Melinda), Rich (Carean), and Andy (Amber); as well as numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father, Coral Holley; and his grandparents.

"Those we love don't go away, they walk beside us everyday". We'll see you again in Heaven.

Please join us for any or all of the services being offered in honor of Eric's life: Saint John's Catholic Cathedral in Boise, April 20, 2024 at 12pm with luncheon to follow. Saint Jerome's Catholic Church in Jerome, April 27, 2024 at 5pm with reception to follow. Monastery of the Ascension in Jerome, May 5, 2024 at 9am.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family on Eric’s memorial webpage at www.farnsworthmortuary.com.