Wayne Joseph Holley

Wayne Joseph Holley departed from this world on July 10, 2024. He passed away after a lengthy illness, with his wife, Debra Langenbacker Holley, at his side.

 Wayne was a 1972 graduate of Long Beach High School in Long Beach, MS. He was the first recipient of the WIC scholarship. Following high school, he attended Jeff Davis Jr. College, where he studied air conditioning and refrigeration. In 1975, he began working at Ingalls Shipyard. Wayne honed his craft as pipefitter at Ingalls for 35 years. If asked where he had learned pipe fitting he would reply, “I learned everything I know at Ingalls University.” Wayne also served for many years as union steward for Local Union 635. After his retirement, he moved to Bay St. Louis and married Debbie, his ‘green eyed sweetheart, the donut girl’. Family was the most important part of his life. He had a special love and devotion to his mother and a special bond with baby sisters, Brenda and Jackie. Wayne was not only a good father to his children, Angela and Andrew, but embraced the role of step-dad to Debbie’s teenage children. His grandchildren, Taylor (Minner) and Hayden were a bonus in his life. Years later, he opened his heart once more to Debbie’s two grandchildren, Morgan and Ryan. He quickly was nicknamed, ‘Ole Man Cool Dude’, by Ryan. Wayne loved the simple pleasures of life. In his early years, he lived to fish, boat, and camp. He was never happier than when he had a fly rod in his hand. Soon after their marriage, Debbie and Wayne traveled to Flippin, Arkansas to fish the White River and tour a winery. On a separate occasion, they traveled to Chicago, Illinois to attend grandson Ryan’s First Communion. Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, Jack Holley and Theresa Lacoste Holley and sister, Brenda Valles. 

Surviving family include his wife Debra Langenbacker Holley. He also leaves a daughter, Angela Holley Charles (Greg), son, Andrew Holley, stepchildren, Courtney Scianna, Steve Scianna, Kaitlyn Gleber (Daniel), and Tyler Wilson (Alyssa). Grandchildren include Taylor (Minner) Holley, Hayden Scott, Morgan Bauers and Ryan Bauers. Other survivors include his baby sister, Jacki Holley (Randy), brother-in-law Wayne Pilgrim and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, July 19, 2024, at Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church in Bay St. Louis, MS. Visitation will be from 11:00 to 12:00 with mass beginning at noon. The family would like to thank the ICU staff and respiratory therapists at Hancock Ochsner, his home care workers, Dr. Jay Seagarra of Gulfport Memorial Hospital, and Father Mike of Our Lady of the Gulf in Bay St. Louis.

The Riemann Family Funeral Home, 141 Hwy 90, Waveland, is serving the family. Please share memories, condolences and photos at www.riemannfamily.com.