Bud Holiman

Bud Holiman, 92 of Columbia, passed away Tuesday, September 2, 2025 at The Neighborhoods at TigerPlace following several weeks of declining health.
Bud was born on July 5, 1933 in Nicut, Oklahoma, the son of John Holiman and Laura (Brown) Holiman. The family, including sisters Minnie Lee and Joyce Dean, moved to Boone County, Missouri in the 1940s. He graduated from Warren School in 1949.
Bud was drafted into the U.S. Army in November 1953 (Korean War) and went to boot camp at Fort Riley, Kansas. Several weeks later he was transferred to Fort Jackson, South Carolina, where he served until his discharge in 1955. During that time he was married to Geraldean Crouch on July 14, 1955 at the First Baptist Student Center on Broadway in Columbia. The couple was baptized by the Reverend Paul Reed at Locust Grove United Methodist Church in December 1964.
Bud grew up helping his father with the farming business. He started driving a tractor when he was eight years old. He planted his first crop in 1956 and always farmed on shares. Bud and Geri purchased an acreage from George Harper in 1962 and moved to Route O from the Max Schwabe farm that is now part of the Highlands. In 1959 Bud started to farm in the McBaine bottom on land owned by Boyle G. Clark. Bud and Geri moved to that farm in December 1964 and bought the farm in 1977. They continued to farm there and endured many floods until they sold it in 1991 to the Missouri Conservation Department. The Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area office was in the Holimans' former home on Route K just east of McBaine until the Department tore it down to build a larger building on the same site. Bud also share cropped the Fritz Farm on Perche Creek for over 30 years. Bud gave that up in 2017. In 1991 the couple moved to higher ground in the Deer Park area.
Bud and Geri were active in the Balanced Farming program started by C.W. Browning, a Boone County Extension agent. Bud served on many boards and committees over the years, including the Boone County Fair Board and Boone County Farm Service Agency Committee. He was a 4-H project leader for Rock Bridge 4-H Club in the 1970s and active in their church in the Bethel community.
Bud had many creative interests. He enjoyed oil painting and the family has several of his framed paintings in the home. Using his welding skills, he created sculptures of a fisherman, a dog, and a peacock that decorated the pond on the farm at Deer Park. He used lots of greenery and lights to create elaborate holiday decorations every Christmas. He also played Santa Claus at Warren School and liked it so much that he played Santa at Extension Club and church parties. Bud liked farming the long rows in the bottom. He started every day with cups and cups of coffee at the McBaine store and visiting with friends.
Bud was preceded in death by his parents and sister Minnie Lee Squires. He is survived by his sister Joyce Dean Williams of O'Fallon, his wife of 70 years, Geri Crouch Holiman, children Kurt Holiman (Denise) of Centralia, Alarice Houston (Matt) of Edwardsville, Illinois, and Dena Hutto (Clay) of Portland, Oregon, and by grandchildren Jared, Ella, and Rohan Holiman and Kyle and Colin Houston.
A gathering of family and friends will be held on Sunday, October 12, 2025 at the farm in the Deer Park area. Bring your own chair and enjoy visiting and remembering Bud from 2:00 to 5:00 PM.
Arrangements are under the direction of Parker-Millard Funeral Service and Crematory, 12 E. Ash St.; Columbia, Missouri 65203. (573) 449-4153. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.milardfamilychapels.com