Scott City councilman Holloway dies

Scott City Councilman Rodney Gale Holloway, who worked hard to improve Scott City's park system, suffered a heart attack and died early Wednesday morning. He was 47.

Friends and colleagues said he had not been in ill health. He attended Monday night's council meeting. Councilman Norman Brant had dropped by Holloway's house for a short visit Tuesday evening.

Holloway helped build the stage the city uses for programs at City Park, Brant said, and was particularly involved with researching easements for the city.

Everyone at city hall was shocked when they received the news Wednesday morning, city administrator Ron Eskew said.

"We're going to miss him a lot. He worked hard for the city and was really well liked around city hall," Eskew said.

Holloway was elected to the city council in 1997, serving Ward 1 for three terms. He did not run for re-election last April but was appointed to a seat on the council when Ron Cummins resigned earlier this fall.

Mayor Tim Porch was out of the state and unavailable for comment Wednesday.

Longtime friend Rob Hodo said Holloway loved to hunt deer and compete in demolition derbies.

"He was well known for being a MacGyver type," Hodo said, referring to the resourceful television character. "If you had something you didn't know how to fix he could MacGyver it.

'Honest, hard-working'

"He was an honest, hard-working fellow who would do anything in the world for you," Hodo said.

Holloway and his wife, Karen, owned K&R Estates, a mobile home park in Scott City. He also worked for Capetown RV.

He is survived by his parents, Harold Holloway of Jackson and Juanita Vistia Crader of Jackson; his wife; a son, Daniel, of Scott City; a stepson, Stephen Parker of Millersburg, Ohio; a stepdaughter, Michelle Parker Siebert of Junction City, Kansas; two brothers, Ivan and Larry Holloway, both of Jackson; three sisters, Wanda Varney of Jackson, Judy Hicks of Cape Girardeau and Doris Woods of Benton, Mo.; and three grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Amick-Burnett Funeral Home in Scott City. Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the funeral chapel.

sblackwell@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182