Carol Irvin Holderman

Carol Irvin Holderman was our mother. She was born March 25th, 1941 in Pittsburg, Texas. She died on Friday, October 12th, 2007, at home. Mom’s early childhood was spent in Tyler, Texas and centered around her church, school and family. In first grade, she had the honor of performing as “bride” on a wedding cake float in the Tyler Rose Parade. This was where our father, a six-year-old spectator, unknowingly first saw his future bride. In the seventh grade, mom’s family moved to El Paso. Mom attended Austin High School for two years and then El Paso High. She was a member of numerous honor societies, student councils, and captain of the ROTC. She was also a Spring Fiesta Princess, Varsity Cheerleader, and member of Who’s Who. In 1959, mom entered Texas Western College, where she earned her degree in secondary education . In college, mom remained active in her honor societies, numerous clubs and service organizations. She was a member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority where she forged life-long friendships. Amongst her honors, were Kappa Sigma Sweetheart, Who’s Who, and Dean’s List. But the most important thing mom did in college was to meet and fall in love with our father, W. Cole Holderman. They were married June 15th, 1963, her parent’s 24th wedding anniversary. Mom taught Spanish at Burgess High School where she co-sponsored the Spanish National Honor Society. Mom left teaching and came home to raise three children, Chris, Cindy and Clay. Growing up a Holderman was unique because of mom’s commitment to family time. Most weekends, she worked tirelessly to ensure we were packed and ready for time away camping, water-skiing or horseback riding in the forests, lakes and open land near El Paso. We cannot put into words all the qualities and traits that made her the best mom in the world. We know it to be true because of the dozens of our friends whom she welcomed into our home and made feel as if it were their own. Most of those friends are returning now to honor her and know that our family home will always be theirs as well. Throughout her life, mom was committed to community service and her church. While we were young, she was active in Junior League where she served 17 years and held leadership positions. She has picked up her mother’s legacy in serving 23 years in P.E.O. and El Paso Woman’s club where she held numerous leadership positions including President. She is active with Trinity First United Methodist Church. Mom is preceded in death by her father, Joseph Foster Irvin, Jr. Her passing is mourned by her husband, W. Cole Holderman; her three children, Chris Holderman and his wife Patricia; Cindy Sizemore and her husband Donald; and Clay Holderman and his wife Shawna; her mother Vashti Irvin McMichael and her husband James; her two sisters, Dianne Irvin Doan, her husband Ron; and Elaine Irvin Darnell, her husband Ray; ten beautiful grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews and their children; and dozens of life-long friends. As her children, we cherish mom’s values of family, community service, caring for others and personal faith. From her life, we know the meaning of unconditional love. In lieu of flowers, honorariums may be made to: Trinity First United Methodist Church (915)544-0841 “Cowboys Tough Enough to Wear Pink” Cancer Research Fund: (866)910-PINK (7465) Funeral services will be held at Trinity First United Methodist Church at 10 am on Tuesday, October 16, 2007. Interment will follow at Memory Gardens of the Valley Cemetery in Santa Teresa, New Mexico. Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Home-West.