Holt Memorial Chapel

02/17/2026

Linda Anne Draves, 81, of Harrison, passed away Thursday, February 12, 2026, at her home in Harrison.

She was born April 1, 1944, at Pekin, Illinois, to Tony Wilburn and Lenora Ambrosia Brown York. Linda lived a life built on faith, honesty, and a deep love for her family. On August 2, 1969,...

View Linda Anne Draves's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

02/17/2026

💙 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐀𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 💙

February is often known as the month of 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞. For many, it brings flowers, cards, and reminders of affection. But for those who are grieving, this season can feel tender in a different way.

In this month’s blog, “Love That Lasts Beyond a Lifetime,” the Rev. Phillip C. Collie II reflects on how love continues even after loss — how it moves from presence to remembrance, and how grief itself is evidence of a love that mattered deeply.

If February feels heavy for you or someone you care about, we invite you to take a few moments to read this encouraging message.

You can find the full blog here:
👉 https://www.holtchapel.com/resources/our-blog

Our blog is updated monthly and often includes helpful insights on grief, remembrance, and funeral-related topics designed to bring comfort and understanding during life’s most difficult seasons.

At Holt Memorial Chapel, we believe care extends beyond the service. We are honored to serve and support families not only in the moment of loss, but in the days and months that follow.

— 𝑯𝒐𝒍𝒕 𝑴𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒆𝒍

02/16/2026

Grief does not follow a schedule, and no one should have to carry it alone.

We are thankful for the ministry of Hospice of the Hills and the safe, compassionate space they provide for those walking through loss. If you or someone you know could benefit from this Grief Recovery Support Group, we encourage you to consider attending.

Support matters. Connection matters. Healing takes time — and you don’t have to walk that road alone.

Hospice of the Hills – Grief Recovery Support Group

Grief can feel isolating, but you don’t have to walk through it alone.

Our weekly Grief Recovery Support Group offers a safe, understanding space to share, reflect, and heal at your own pace.

Real Ministries
111 S. Spring Street
Harrison, AR 72601

Tuesdays at 11:00 a.m.

This group is open to the entire community — your loved one did not have to be a hospice patient to attend.

There is no cost, no pressure, and no expectations.
Just support, compassion, and connection.
If you or someone you know is carrying the weight of loss, we welcome you to join us.

02/16/2026

At Holt Memorial Chapel, tradition matters.

The use of boutonnieres in funeral service dates back centuries. Historically, flowers were worn at funerals to signify respect for the deceased and to identify those entrusted with special responsibility. Over time, the boutonniere became a quiet mark of honor—distinguishing pallbearers and clergy as individuals serving both the family and the one being remembered.

Pallbearers have long been recognized with a simple flower as a symbol of the sacred duty they carry, while clergy were traditionally distinguished to reflect their role in offering spiritual guidance, comfort, and hope during times of loss. Though small in size, the boutonniere has always carried deep meaning.

For every service we handle, Holt Memorial Chapel provides 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒉 𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝒑𝒖𝒓𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒂 𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒇𝒍𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕—𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍. We honor pallbearers with a 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒚, symbolizing reverence and remembrance, and clergy with a 𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒚, recognizing their sacred role and pastoral care.

We are the 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒇𝒖𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒂 that continues this meaningful tradition for every service. It’s a small detail, but one that reflects our belief that those who serve a family during their most difficult moments deserve to be honored with intention and respect.

It’s just one more way Holt Memorial Chapel remains committed to excellence, tradition, and thoughtful care for the families we serve.

02/15/2026

Today we’re celebrating someone who means so much to all of us at Holt Memorial Chapel! 🎉🎂

Please join us in wishing our co-owner, Rachel Collie, a very Happy Birthday!

Rachel is the wife of Phillip and the proud mom of Conner and Carson. She is also a licensed cosmetologist who graciously cares for and styles the hair of many of the loved ones entrusted to us. In addition, she serves as our office manager and bookkeeper, and she is always ready to step in—whether in the office or assisting during services.

Rachel is truly a vital part of Holt Memorial Chapel. Her compassion, attention to detail, and servant’s heart help ensure every family we serve is cared for with dignity and love.

Rachel, thank you for all you do for the families we serve and for our chapel family. We are so grateful for you. 💐❤️

Happy Birthday! 🎉

02/14/2026

❤️ On this Valentine’s Day, we especially lift up those who are missing someone dear to their heart.

If today feels heavy, please remember you are not alone. God is close to the brokenhearted, and His comfort meets us even in our quietest moments. May you feel His peace, the warmth of cherished memories, and the assurance that love never truly fades.

From all of us at Holt Memorial Chapel, we’re holding you in our prayers today.

02/13/2026

Have you ever noticed the name plate displayed in the window of a funeral coach?

The tradition of placing a funeral home’s name on a hearse dates back to the 𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙚-𝙙𝙧𝙖𝙬𝙣 𝙚𝙧𝙖 𝙤𝙛 𝙛𝙪𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙡 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙚. Early funeral carriages were marked to identify the undertaker entrusted with the care of the deceased—not for advertising, but for 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙜𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 within the community.

As funeral coaches became motorized in the early 1900s, the tradition continued with 𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙨, typically featuring simple lettering and dignified design. These plates allowed families, clergy, and cemeteries to easily recognize the funeral home serving the family and symbolized the firm standing behind its work with pride and professionalism.

Today, the hearse name plate remains a quiet reminder of heritage and trust. It represents more than a name—it reflects a promise of care, dignity, and respect during life’s most difficult moments.

At Holt Memorial Chapel, we are proud to continue this tradition and the values it represents.

02/11/2026

Paul Benjamin Hackett, 81, of Harrison, passed away on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at Hillcrest Home in Harrison.

He was born October 30, 1944, at Alton, Illinois, to Edwin Kennedy and Beatrice Leila Sooy Hackett. He married Miss Dorothy Hollingshad on June 17, 1966, at Alton, Illinois. Mr. ...

View Paul Benjamin Hackett's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

02/11/2026

Have you ever noticed the decorative “S-shaped” bars on the sides of a funeral coach (hearse)? These are called 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐮 𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐬, and they carry a long and meaningful history.

Landau bars trace their origins back to 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞-𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐰𝐧 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬 of the 18th and 19th centuries. On early carriages, the landau bar was a functional hinge used on folding coach tops, allowing sections of the carriage to open or close. As funeral service transitioned from horse-drawn vehicles to motorized hearses in the early 1900s, the functional hinge was no longer needed—but the symbol remained.

Over time, landau bars became a 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, honoring the heritage of funeral service and serving as a visual link between past and present. Today, they are widely recognized as a symbol of dignity, tradition, and respect—quietly identifying a vehicle as one entrusted with carrying a loved one for their final journey.

At Holt Memorial Chapel, we believe these traditions matter. Details like landau bars remind us that funeral service is not just about transportation or logistics, but about honoring life, history, and the families we are privileged to serve.

It’s another example of how tradition continues to guide thoughtful, respectful care—yesterday, today, and always.

02/09/2026

Some services stay with you in a very personal way.

On Saturday, February 7, 2026, we had the honor of conducting the graveside service for John Allan Jones—a longtime Harrison business owner, a faithful Christian man, and the brother of Glenna Jones Ragan, former owner of Holt Memorial Chapel. Being asked by the family to officiate John Allan’s service was an honor I will always cherish.

John Allan’s story is deeply connected to Holt. As a high school student, he worked for Pat Ragan, running ambulance calls and helping around the funeral home. Standing there years later, speaking words of faith and remembrance for him, felt like a full-circle moment I will never forget.

I have been blessed with friendships with the Jones and Ragan families for many years. It was so good to visit with Mrs. Ragan at the visitation and service and to have a photo taken together—she looked as beautiful as ever. I am also grateful for my friendship with Ken Jones, who, like his brother, once worked for Pat Ragan and still stops by the office for coffee, conversation, and fellowship. Those visits mean more than he probably realizes.

John Allan’s greatest legacy, though, is his family. His wife, Sharon, and his daughters, Shelly Stone and Stacy Flower, along with their families, have become very special friends to me over the years. Walking alongside them during this time, and being entrusted to speak at the service for someone they loved so dearly, was deeply humbling.

It was also special to have Rachel and Carson helping with the service that beautiful Saturday afternoon. Seeing so many familiar faces, sharing memories, and honoring a life marked by faith, service, and love reminded me why this calling matters so much.

Moments like this remind me that Holt Memorial Chapel is more than a place of work—it is a continuing story of faith, relationships, and families walking together through life and loss.

02/06/2026

For generations, thousands of families have trusted 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐭 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐥 in their greatest times of need — a tradition that began long before 1924 and continues today.

Families come to us for many reasons — from “that’s where my family has always gone,” to simply seeing our name in the newspaper. Whatever brings you through our doors, we count it a true privilege to serve your family with professionalism, compassion, and personal care.

Those who have experienced other funeral homes and then experienced Holt often tell us 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧.

We are here for you when you need us most. 💛

02/05/2026

Ryan Christopher Oswalt, 49, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, formerly of Harrison, passed away on Sunday, February 1, 2026, at Saint Francis Health Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Ryan was born on March 1, 1976, in Columbus, Mississippi, to Terry Cleveland and Mona Lea Fields Oswalt. From an early age...

View Ryan Christopher Oswalt's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.