Paul M. Holloway

Paul Michael Holloway was born March 27, 1948, in the McPherson County General Hospital, McPherson, Kansas. He peacefully passed away in the late-night hours of October 7, 2024, at the Moundridge Manor, reaching the age of 76.

His parents were Sherman C and Verna (Deany) Holloway. He and his family lived on a farm 2 miles north of Inman, Kansas, on the Inman-Conway blacktop. The family moved to Inman in the fall of 1954 and back to the farm in the fall of 1959. He attended Inman grade school until the middle of his 8th grade year when the family moved to Garden Grove, California. He completed his grade school education at Izaak Walton Junior High. He then attended and graduated from Garden Grove High School in 1966, Fullerton Junior College in 1969, and Cal State University at Fullerton in September 1970. He entered post-graduate studies and received his teacher’s certificate a year later. He taught for two years at Loara High School in Anaheim, California. When the economy failed, he had no job, and the family was having financial difficulties due to his father’s ill health after subsequent strokes. He started working at Minutemen Temporary Help Services, first as an employee sent out to various jobs and then as an Office Manager in their Santa Ana office. He never forgot his experience finding a body in the weeds next to the Bellflower Office while he was in training. It fundamentally changed his spiritual outlook on mortality and hell.

In August 1974, his family was offered the opportunity to move back to Kansas to a farm given to his father by Grandma Anna. Paul started working at the CertainTeed Pipe Plant in McPherson, Kansas, in September 1974 and was employed there until February 2007. While working at CertainTeed, Paul noticed people who appeared to be different from those he had associated with. The most outstanding characteristic that commended itself to him was the peace they had. He remembered a conversation in the breakroom in which a Church of God in Christ, Mennonite member had talked about his daughter’s upcoming wedding and how pleased he was that she was marrying a Christian man of the same faith. Later, something prompted Paul to ask the others what they felt about this man’s faith and salvation. The interesting point was that they all felt one could be saved in ‘that church’ but didn’t feel confident being saved in one another’s churches.

After that, the Lord began to lead Paul closer to the truth and His people. While searching for the truth, Paul was invited to attend services at the Zion Congregation in August of 1980. He kept attending there and came under spiritual conviction for his sins. Finally, the Friday after Thanksgiving, he gave his heart to the Lord while attending revivals and was born again. Much learning needed to be done, but he was baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, in January of 1982.

Later, Paul felt led to attend Lone Tree Church, where he found many more friends and his life’s companion, Grace Koehn. They were united in marriage on September 28, 1986. He returned to the Zion Congregation in 1993 when the eldest child started school because Zion’s school was closer to their home. Dad and Mom had four children in 6 years so were kept busy providing for the family. They lived on the Holloway home place where his parents and grandparents had lived. There were always gardens, livestock, and pets around, and Dad enjoyed them all. He liked to whistle, sing, and listen to singing, and found a particular joy in hearing his children sing at home. Despite Dad experiencing a heart attack about 13 years ago, he managed to persevere. He always enjoyed reading the Bible and sharing his thoughts and queries with friends and family.

After leaving CertainTeed, Dad worked for a short time as an CNA at Moundridge Manor and The Cedars in McPherson and later found employment at Gospel Tract and Bible Society in Moundridge, Kansas. He worked there until his retirement. He very much enjoyed his conversations with his co-workers and communicating with customers via letter, e-mail, and phone.

He leaves behind his wife Grace, children, Caleb and Kristi, Daniel and Rebekah, Jemima, and Micah and Natalie. He is survived by three granddaughters and five grandsons, three sisters, Linda Paul, Chris Pitts, and Janet Dickerson, a brother, John, and a brother-in-law, Mike Boone.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Kathy Boone.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM, Saturday, October 12, 2024, at Zion Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, Inman, KS. The funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM, Sunday, October 13, at Zion Church of God in Christ, Mennonite. Burial will follow at Zion Church Cemetery.

Memorial donations can be made to Moundridge Manor in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 North Chestnut, McPherson, KS 67460.