Michael "Shorty" Holder

DESOTO - Michael "Shorty" Holder, age 69, passed away at home on September 14, 2026. Mike was born on July 4, 1957 in Carbondale to William and Laura Mae (Phemister) Holder. After his Dad's passing when he was a teenager, his mom remarried to Harold Dodge, who he thought a lot of. Mike married Kathy Kelley on June 16, 1988 in Paducah, KY. She preceded him in death on July 29, 1998.

At the heart of our blended family was a man who loved deeply, spoke his mind whether you asked him to or not, and treated every weekend like a high-stakes vacation. If it was Saturday or Sunday, you knew exactly where to find him: captaining his pontoon on Crab Orchard Lake, flying Old Glory high, and hosting a rolling lake party for anyone smart enough to hop aboard. A die-hard Dale Earnhardt fan, he channeled that #3 energy into everything-from go-kart tracks to his absolute obsession with lawn care. Pity the single blade of grass that dared to grow out of line, because that yard was getting mowed twice a week, rain or shine.

He believed almost anything in life could be fixed with a little elbow grease, and that any meal could be vastly improved with a criminal amount of ketchup. He was unapologetically stubborn, fiercely opinionated, and always right (just ask him), but beneath that tough exterior was a big softie who never let you leave without a hug and an "I love you." He leaves behind a legacy of laughter, perfectly manicured turf, and unforgettable days on the water. We are going to miss him tremendously.

For over thirty years, he put that same relentless work ethic to use hauling dirt for Sam Burkey Excavating, leaving a piece of his personality on every job site. He swore he knew every bump and pothole in the county by name, and if a dump truck wasn't loaded to absolute maximum capacity, he considered it a personal offense to the entire excavation industry. Even well past 60, he'd still eagerly scramble up on trucks to secure and load heavy equipment himself, and if you asked him to bring something to the site, he'd show up so ridiculously early you'd think the job started yesterday.

Mike is survived by daughters, Kristy (Andrew) Holder and Lindsay Holder-Hepp; stepchildren, Kathy Jo (Kevin) Haldeman, Jeremy Johnson, and Chrissy (Jamie) Massey; grandchildren, Haley (Cole) Cygan, Madison Haldeman, Trista (Kane) Henson, Marley Hepp, Van Hepp, Kase Sharp, and Kylie Massey; great-grandchildren, Kaydon, Onyx and Serenity; step-sisters, Peggy (Doug) Mayer and Louise Clutts; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Kathy, parents; brother, Larry Holder; sister, Brenda Harrison; and step-father, Harold Dodge.

Funeral Services for Mike will be held at 1:00pm on Monday, September 21, 2026 at Meredith Funeral Home in Carbondale. Burial will follow in Oakland Cemetery, Carbondale. A time of visitation will be from 10:00am until service time on Monday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hope Lodge in St. Louis, MO or Special Olympics - in the name of Kathy Sue Holder and will be accepted at the funeral home.

Meredith Funeral Home in Carbondale assisted the family with arrangements. To leave a story or memory of Mike visit www.meredithfh.com.