Ervin James Holden “E.J.” passed away at the age of 48. He was born in Sapulpa, Oklahoma on April 6, 1970 to Albert and Nadine Holden (Howk).

As E.J. grew up he spent his summers in Oklahoma City with his grandmother Alline Daughty and his extended family. It was some of his best childhood memories. His grandma’s spaghetti was his favorite food and he would ask her to cook it every day.

During his working life he worked at Paragon Industries for 25 years. He met the love of his life Rena at the stockyards in Bristow and they got married in 1989, which he said was the greatest day of his life. In 1990 Rhonda Lyon blessed all of their lives with her daughter Shelbie. In 2009 they were blessed with the birth of their daughter Mattie.

One of his favorite sports teams is the Oklahoma State University. Some of his favorite artist and music were Merle Haggard songs, especially Silver Wings and Back in Black by AC/DC. Some of his favorite books were Tale of Two Cities and Where the Fern Grows, some of his favorite movies were Remember the Titans, anything that had John Wayne in it, he loved the Discovery Channel and the Food Network.

E.J. personality was the greatest, he was generous and he would be glad to give you his dollar or a couch to crash on. He believed in giving second chances, but not thirds. He believed a man was only as good as his word. He also believed that family was not just the people or family that you were born into, but made with the ones that you love. Some of the best words to describe E.J. were, Honest, Fair, Charming, Funny, and Amazing Husband and Father.

On an additional note from E.J…Life is too short, do not waste it working all the time. You will never get back the time you missed with all the people that you love.

E.J. is survived by his wife Rena of 30 years, his father and step-mother Albert and Claudine Holden of Mannford, OK, his children; Mattie at home, and Shelbie Prince and husband Russel of Tulsa, his grandchildren, Leetha and Phoenix of Tulsa, his sisters; Samantha and Robby Smalley of Sapulpa, Kristina and Darrell Grist of Henryetta, and Sheila Kissee of Glenpool, step-sister Nora and Jerry Green of Tulsa, step-sister Carla Marshall and Chuck of Drumright, and step-brother Bruce Beigley of Tulsa.

A memorial service for E.J. will be held on Wednesday, March 20, 2019 at Schaudt’s Glenpool Funeral Service at 11:00 AM.