Billie Louise Holocker

Our dear mother, Billie "Louise" Holocker passed away on July 13, 2025, she was 93 years old. She was caring, kind, loving, generous, thoughtful, and prayerful. She was a gentle soul and a good Christian mother. She will be greatly missed by family and friends. We loved her so.

Mom was in born in Littlefield, Texas to Fred and Ida (Denton) Beisel on February 8, 1932. At about age four, her mother took her to Idaho where mom spent most of her childhood. In her teens, mother traveled multiple occasions to Texas by herself to visit her dad and stepmother, older brothers and stepsiblings, finally staying in Texas where she met our dad.

Mom married James Riley Holocker (Junior JR) on October 14, 1950. She was preceded in death by our dad, James Riley Holocker, her mother Ida Ramsey, her father Fred and Zelma Cantrell Beisel, dad's parents George and Goldie (Lankford) Holocker, three brothers Joe Beisel, Bob Beisel and Wyiley Parrish, a sister Mary Parrish, our brother John Robert and Lucretia (Lawson) Holocker, Janet (Davis) Holocker, Jaimie Lynn (Burruss) Holocker, Alexander Holocker, Goldie Grace Arthur, Jarett Turpin, several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, several nieces and nephews, and her Cantrell stepsiblings.

Mother is survived by a sister Nellie (Parrish) and Jim Poen, a sister-in-law Darlean (Holocker) Martin, five remaining children and spouses, James David and Jeannette (Beatrez) Holocker, Carolyn (Holocker) and Dale Arthur, Mary (Holocker) and Bob Russell, Danny Holocker, Nancy (Holocker) McConnell.

Surviving grandchildren are James David II and Lyndsi Litten Holocker, Johnny and Malgorzata (Gabrysiak) Holocker, Robbie Holocker, Jonnie Elra Mae Vallar and Crista Stephenson, Steven and Debbie (Johnson) Arthur, Sarah (Arthur) and Matt Denson, Matthew Arthur, Lyndsey (Russell) and Mark Tatsumura, Stephanie Russell, Ashley Davis, Danny Holocker Jr., and Christopher McConnell.

Mom's surviving great-grandchildren are Julia (Holocker) and Issac Salas, Cameron and Gloria (Alonzo) Holocker, William Holocker, Adam Holocker, Cobi and Katie (Moller) Holocker, Ryan and Alyssa (Rice) Holocker, Tracey (Holocker) and Robert Simrell III, Ben Holocker, Maxx Holocker, Marcus Matthew Moseman, John Mayson Matthew Vallar, Raymond Arthur, Morgan Arthur, Taylor Denson, Abigail Denson, Isabella Russell Fernandez, Maximus Gonzales, and Oliver Hicks.

Surviving are her great-great-grandchildren, Adilyn, Sofia, Kenzly, Owen, Cohen, Zoe, Irene and Sebastian.

Mom had a great love of music and was mostly, self-taught. Her mother taught her to play the pump organ and piano. Then as a young woman she bought an accordion with her very first paycheck. She learned to play violin, guitar and the harmonica. She devoted all her musical talents to the Lord with her only genre being gospel. Mom had a good ear for music, listen to learn, and the ability to change keys, as needed. She filled our home with Christian music, and throughout most of her life, played piano for various churches, played accordion with Pastor Opperman of West McKinley Assembly of GOD at a nursing facility, and joined a music group with Sue and Billy Paul. She continued to learn more about music, playing throughout her entire life until just weeks before her death. Mom never passed up keyboards or "Magnus" organs in yard sales and thrift stores that she would gift to children or adults interested in learning to play, often providing lessons and song sheets.

Mom was quite the seamstress in years past, making most of her own clothes and for her children, piecing together numerous quilt tops, keeping us girls in style with crocheted shawls and vests. She earned an award at work for crocheted sprinkler dolls. She was well known for Renuzit dolls dressed in stylish crocheted outfits. Mom stitched together hundreds of Nancy's "Mile-a-Minute" crochet strips to give as gifts.

Mom was a devout Christian, always trying to learn more from the Bible, sharing her faith with others, writing summaries or notations as she read, reading scripture, praying and praising the Lord. Her prayers were for others. Mom being humble ended her prayers with "Lord, you know my needs." She loved Jesus with her whole heart.

Mom was called "Cooker Lady" by many. She was a great cook, having the ability to, not only feed our large family of eight on a tight budget, but stretching the meal to feed guests. Well known for amazingly tender pie crusts, lemon meringue pies and "chicken and dumplings" were some of her best dishes.

Mother was never afraid of hard work; her family took in ironing. Her first job outside the home was store clerk, she worked at chicken processing and as farm labor. Each of her children joined her in the grape fields to earn money for school clothes. After dad passed, mother took an assembly line job at Buckner Sprinklers until retirement. The most important job in her life was taking care of her children, being an excellent homemaker, and tending to the needs of our younger sister Nancy and helping to raise grandson Christopher.

Special thanks to Bristol Hospice staff for their support over the last several weeks of mom's life, their support made it possible to keep our mother at home in her final weeks. We all appreciate their loving gentle support.

A memorial service celebrating our mother, Billie Louise Holocker, will be Tuesday, August 12, 2025, 10:00 at Refinery West McKinley, 3014 West McKinley Ave, Fresno, California. Grandson and pastor, Rob Holocker of Missouri, will officiate the service. Flowers or plants are always appreciated, the family also recommends making donations to Mission Thrift, 6036 N. First Street, of Fresno.