Bruce Leon Holland

Bruce Leon Holland, 89, of Highfill, AR died Saturday October 21, 2023 at his home surrounded by his family. He was born November 1933, in Highfill, to Elisha & Opal (Gailey) Holland on his family’s farm. He grew up in the Highfill & Logan communities. He attended grades 1-3 at the Logan school & 4-8th grade at Highfill. He graduated in 1952 from Gentry High School. He attended John Brown University for 3 years & then completed his bachelor’s degree at the University of Arkansas in 1956. He had many continuing education opportunities throughout his career. When Bruce was 18, he accepted Christ as his Savior & the call God placed on his life as a minister of The Gospel of Jesus Christ. In 1954 Bruce was ordained at Gum Springs Baptist Church in Siloam Springs, AR where he was pastoring. In May 1955 he married Mary Ellen Epperson at Gum Springs. In 1956 he & Mary Ellen along with their first daughter moved to SE Missouri where Bruce taught high school English, Speech & Drama. He taught in the towns of Winona, Van Buren & Ellsinore MO. During their time in Missouri, they added 2 daughters & a son to their family. Bruce served as a bi-vocational pastor in many small churches across SE Missouri & NW Arkansas. In 1970 they returned home to Highfill where they purchased a small piece of land that came with a small general store, which they operated for a few years. Bruce served as principal at Pea Ridge for the spring semester of 1971 & then that fall moved to Gentry High School where he taught until 1979. He also continued to serve as a bi-vocational paster. He was serving again at Gum Springs Baptist Church when he made the transition from teaching career to full time ministry in 1979. He served at Gum Springs 17 years & Highfill Baptist Church for the next eight years. In January 1997 Bruce started a Bible study in his home with 10 people that would grow into Osage Mills Baptist Fellowship. Bruce had the privilege of leading two congregations to organize as churches. The first in Poplar Bluff, MO & Osage Mills being the second and he remained active there until his death. Bruce also enjoyed serving within the NW Baptist Association & Arkansas Baptist State Convention during his ministry career. Bruce led a Godly life of example to family as well as the many people he has ministered to over the last 89 years. He served the Lord with faithfulness & impacted many lives. He performed countless wedding ceremonies, including all of his children & grandchildren, counseled people in need & cared for hundreds of families in their time of loss. He is enjoying Heaven today as his faith has become sight. Bruce loved to fish. As a boy he fished Osage creek & many other streams around Highfill & Logan. Later he enjoyed fishing the streams of SE Missouri & lakes in Canada & Mexico. Bruce was also a sports fan. As a boy he began listening to the St Louis Cardinals on his radio & he remained a lifelong fan as well as an avid Razorback fan. Bruce was preceded in death by his parents, brother Merle Holland, grandson Will Blankenship & great-granddaughter Reese Shaw. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Mary Ellen of the home. Children, Cece Collier & husband Dennis of Siloam Springs, Dianne Burrus & husband Jim of Gentry, Bryan Holland & wife Beth of Centerton & Denise Etris & husband Tim of Decatur. Grandchildren Mark & Sally Blankenship, Lacey & Richie Shaw, Rachel & Richard Long, Eli & Hannah Holland, Katie & Ryan Payne, Matthew & Kristina Holland, Joshua & Laura Holland & Emily & Colten Hutcheson. Sixteen great-grandchildren, a great, great-grandson & many other family & close friends. A Visitation will be from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., Thursday, October 26, 2023, at Wasson Funeral Home, 441 Highway 412 W., Siloam Springs, AR. 72761. The Funeral will be at 10:00 a.m., Friday, October 27, 2023, at First Baptist Church, Highfill, AR., with burial to follow at Springtown Cemetery, Springtown, AR. Memorials may be made to Osage Mills Baptist Fellowship 10632 Mill Dam Rd, Bentonville, AR 72713 or The Gideons International. To sign the online guestbook, please visit: www.wassonfuneralhome.com

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Bruce Leon Holland

November 27, 1933 - October 21, 2023