Dr. Holley William Reed

Dr. Holley William Reed, age 101, of Amarillo, died peacefully at his home on July 17, 2024.

A graveside service will be held Friday, July 26, 2024, at 9:30 AM at Memory Gardens Cemetery, followed by a memorial service in the chapel of The Craig, 5500 SW 9th in Amarillo, officiated by Rev. Will Esler of Westminster Presbyterian Church and Chaplain Lane Boyd of The Craig. 

He was born on November 22, 1922 in New York City, New York to Charles Bailey Reed, M.D. and Marjorie Holley Reed, the older of two children. His grandfather was William Emory Reed, M.D.

Holley was raised in Newburgh, New York and graduated from Newburgh Free Academy in 1940. He graduated from Colgate University, where he was a member of Theta Chi Fraternity, and received a Medical Degree from Hahnemann Medical College in March 1946. He graduated with a letter of appointment to the US Navy as Lieutenant, Junior Grade Medical Corps and completed his medical internship in Stamford, Connecticut. Holley proudly served as a general medical officer and a Naval Flight Surgeon at naval stations in Florida and California, and while aboard the USS Suisun. in Hawaii, Japan, and the South China Sea. Shortly before the end of his military commitment, Holley married Dorothy Jeanne Lewis in Rapid City, South Dakota on December 1, 1948. The couple remained devoted to each other for more than 75 years and Holley is the proud father of three daughters.

After completing his pediatric residency at New York Medical College in Manhattan, New York, in 1951, Holley, moved to Amarillo to begin a private practice, becoming one of only 4 area pediatricians. With new medicines becoming available, he was on the cusp of modern medicine, which he combined with his kind personality and common-sense style of dealing with new parents. He quickly became a trusted colleague and inspiring mentor to generations of younger physicians. Holley worked tirelessly for all his patients for 39 years and had several second-generation patients. In addition, he loved serving as a volunteer pediatrician for the Amarillo Presbyterian Children’s Home and doing house calls to Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch. In the 30th Anniversary Fall 2020 edition of “Panhandle Health”, the publication of Potter-Randall County Medical Society, he is cited as an Amarillo Icon and a pioneer pediatrician. Board certified in pediatrics, he was a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatrics and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He served as Secretary of the Potter-Randall County Medical Society for two years, 1958-1959.

A man of deep faith, Holley was an active member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, where he served in several volunteer positions and was a moral compass for the community. He further benefited his community as a longtime member of the Amarillo Exchange Club.

Holley loved the outdoors, boating and water skiing in the summers and snow skiing in the winters. He especially enjoyed fishing in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Holley and Dorothy supported each other in their passion for entertaining and extensive traveling, both in the United States and internationally with friends and family. One of their biggest adventures began when they inherited the Belladonna, a family houseboat, and spent several summers moving it from New York’s Hudson River down the Intercostal Waterway, and across the country to Lake Meredith.

Holley loved yard work, trimming the trees and watering the grass, but knew when to move forward to the next chapter, moving with Dorothy to The Craig Senior Living Community in early 2017. There, he quickly joined in exercise classes, bingo games, donut patrol, Friday breakfasts, Sunday brunch and ice cream socials, making a vast number of new friends, while still available to an ever-growing extended family. 

Holley was a kind, gentle, caring man, well-respected and loved by those he knew. He loved his wife and daughters and took good care of his family.

Holley was preceded in death by both of his parents and his younger brother, Don Reed.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, their three daughters, Marilyn (Gary) Trook of Amarillo, TX, Courtney Bryan of Houston, TX, and Kathryn (Steve) Clark of Littleton, CO; seven grandchildren, Jason (Stephanie) Trook of Lubbock, TX, Janet (Jody) Morris of Amarillo, TX, Karen (Jerrod) Copeland of Joshua, TX, Michael (Lindsey) Trook of Mansfield, TX, Barrett Bryan of Magnolia, TX, Jenny (Mac) Cassin of Boulder, CO, and Matt (Colleen) Clark of Denver, CO, and nine great grandchildren, Wesley (Elizabeth), Meredith, Emma, Jacob, Jadon, Jesse, Jace, Paxton, Grayson.

Memorials may be made to Amarillo Children’s Home or Westminster Presbyterian Church in Amarillo.