Jack Charles Holland,

Jack Holland of Mercedes answered the call of his lifetime sweetheart, his "little woman" Evelyn to reunite. Born April 18th, 1933 Jackie Charles Holland was the son of Benny Berry and Frankie Reese Holland of Weslaco. Jack grew up in the labor camps of Weslaco with little brother Sammie Gene working the crop fields with his parents and hand picking cotton. They traveled the state following the work eventually coming back to Weslaco. Always looking for a new adventure Jack quit high school and join the Marines. The Corp traveled him from Japan to the Philippines. In the Corp, Jack picked up the fiddle and enjoyed diving for pearls in the Sea of Japan. Honorably discharged as a Corporal Jack returned to Weslaco working odd jobs landing him a part-time position as a mail carrier at the Mercedes post office. This began what became a 37-year career and he retired as a tour one LSM supervisor at the McAllen Main Hub. Playing country earned him a spot in good friend Buddy Onderdonk's band. It was at a rehearsal at Buddy's Home in Mercedes on Onderdonk hill where Jack met, fell in love with, and eventually married Evelyn Claire, Buddy's little sister in 1955. 8 years later, Jack Junior and 14 years later Jill Marie came along. Jack enjoyed a stiff rum and coke, a bright Coleman lantern, and a sharp gig for his many flounder trips to the Port Mansfield East cut and South Padre Island with Evelyn and the kids. He enjoyed good fiddle music. Chubby Wise was a favorite. After retiring from the post office he enjoyed playing his fiddle, making his beef jerky and oatmeal cookies or just sitting under a shade tree watching the hummingbirds eat off of his feeders he kept. He will be remembered as a great provider, a loving father, and grandfather and mentor who instilled in you if you're going to do something, do it right or don't do it at all. Words we live by to this day. Jack was a ham radio operator and actually ran phone patch Communications during Hurricane Beulah when phone lines were down. He is preceded in death by father Benny and mother Frankie and his wife Evelyn of 59 years. He is survived by his children Jack Charles Holland Jr (wife Traci) of Mercedes and Jill Marie Zamora (husband Adolfo) of McAllen, grandchildren Samantha, Evelyn and Jack the 3rd, and Emily and Abigail Zamora, brothers-in-law Larry, Bobby, Dan and Ernest Onderdonk and numerous nephews and nieces. Visitation will be held Sunday, February 18th, from 2-8pm at McCaleb Funeral Home Chapel. Graveside service will be held on Monday, 10 am, at Ebony Grove Cemetery in Mercedes, officiated by Pastor Chris O'Loughlin. Contributions can be made to Sea Turtles, Inc. of South Padre Island.