Holt Memorial Chapel - 'A tradition of excellence since 1924'

Phillip and Rachel Collie moved to Harrison from Dover. “We are both natives of Dover, but absolutely love having Harrison as our home now,” he said. The Collies accepted the pastorate of Batavia Assembly of God four and a half years ago.

After high school, Phillip preached the funeral of a great aunt. The funeral director offered him a job and encouraged him to consider that line of work. Collie had always been interested in mortuary school. When the funeral director saw his interest and potential he encouraged him to attend mortuary school and get his director’s license. To do so, he moved to Mountain Home to live with John and Jackie Conner, attended school and worked at a funeral home.

He completed the Assembly of God School of Ministry in 2003 and worked at a funeral home in Russellville for 20 years. “Harrison is home for us now. Each family we have dealt with has been so nice and easy to work with. It isn’t that way in other places. So we are very grateful to be here in a great community.”

“The Conners really adopted me as one of the family and we’ve remained close since that time,” he said.

When Collie heard that the Ragan family might be selling Holt Memorial Chapel, he wrote Glenna Ragan a letter and shared his heart’s desire with her. “I really felt called to be a funeral director and was very interested in continuing the family-owned legacy the Ragans had with Holt Memorial Chapel.”

The Ragan family continued to speak to the Collie family for almost a year. On Dec. 18, 2020 the papers were signed and Holt Memorial Chapel had new owners —  the Collies and Conners of Mountain Home.

“We are so thankful they saw in us the ability to continue the legacy. Holt Memorial Chapel has a good name and reputation in the community,” he said.

The Collies started remodeling the day after they signed papers. They continued to hold services and worked one room at a time. The changes are beautiful and will be very functional for families during the difficult time of losing a loved one.

Showing each person the respect they deserve — even in death, is very important to the family. They started the flag program to also show proper respect to a flag that needs retiring. When a veteran is cremated, the flag is placed over the body and both are treated with respect at the end of life.

The Conners started their funeral home business ten years ago in Mountain Home. The Conner Family Funeral Home and Cremation Center has a room so families can view the final moments of their loved ones —  even in cremation if desired.

Since they are partnered with the Conners of Mountain Home, they are able to use the crematorium there. “We stay with the body and continue to show the respect each person deserves,” he said. “We are not a body disposal place. We want to honor the people we work with.”

Collie added, “There is a difference between funeral homes and the respect they show for the deceased and the family. We feel like our prices are fair and in line with the community. I believe we are the least expensive and we provide a great service.” 

Holt Memorial Chapel has a very interesting history. Luther Holt purchased the Cline Furniture and Undertaking Company in 1924. Cline was known for embalming the notorious bank robber, Henry Star. (A picture of Henry Star’s laid out body is on display in a bookcase filled with the history of the business.) Holt had a daughter that married a Ragan. She graduated from college in 1943, a time when it was very rare for a female to be in business. But with the men away at war, Guenieve Holt Ragan worked the business and eventually her son Patrick joined her. 

Patrick married Glenna and moved the business from close to the hospital to a building they built on Capps Road in the 70s. Patrick died at an early age of their married life and Glenna took over the operation of the business.

“I believe Mrs. Glenna was one of the first in Arkansas to receive the ‘Pursuit of Excellence Award’ for her work here at Holt,” he said.

The Collies and Conners are thrilled to continue the family-owned traditions of Holt Memorial Chapel.  Another way they felt they could honor the community is to pay special tribute to American flags when they need to be retired.

Howard Moore of Batavia built a beautiful walnut flag box which is in the lobby of Holt Memorial Chapel. Anyone can drop off a flag that needs to be retired properly.

Phillip and Rachel have been married for 18 years and have two boys. Conner, 14 and Carson,10 who helped a lot with the remodel of the facility.

Holt Memorial Chapel is Harrison's oldest, continuously local family owned and operated funeral home. Holt Memorial Chapel has "A tradition of excellence since 1924." The phone number is 870-741-3481 and located at 1904 Capps Road.