Shirley May Risher Holland (“Rish”), age 88, of Bowling Green, Kentucky, passed away on Thursday, December 20, 2018, at Hospice of Southern Kentucky amidst the loving support of her family and friends. She was born to the late Eugene A. Risher and Violet I. Cope Risher on July 1, 1930 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Johnstown Central High School in 1948.
In 1950, she began her studies at Western Kentucky College in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and graduated in 1954 with a B.S. in Physical Education. While a student, she studied design and art under the famous watercolorist Ivan Wilson, and was an active member of the student theater group, Western Players. Later in life, she combined these interests as a set designer for many locally produced plays and musicals.
She married James Henry Holland at Fort Sam Houston outside San Antonio, Texas in 1954, and they lived in Fort Bragg, North Carolina for two years, where she began teaching school. When they returned to Bowling Green, she taught for two years at North Warren Elementary, and then took a break from teaching to have her three sons. She resumed teaching in 1965 at Dishman-McGinnis Elementary, teaching 7th and 8th grade science.
When the school system was re-organized, she moved to Bowling Green Junior High School, where she taught 8th grade science in the “Pluto” satellite. She proudly maintained to her death that Pluto was a “real planet”. She “retired” in 1992 after 29 years of teaching, but then began to work as a volunteer at Natcher Elementary, where she taught for over 20 additional years as a reading coach, a Junior Achievement Instructor, and as the Science Coach for the Governor’s Cup Academic Team.
While teaching, she also completed two graduate degrees at Western Kentucky University. The first was an M.A. in Counseling, and then a “Rank One” degree in Science Education, with a specialization in Physics and Astronomy. Her teaching was not limited to her work at schools.
She was a Cub Scout Den Mother, a Red Cross Swimming Instructor, and taught Sunday School classes for many years. She was a teacher for the United Methodist Women Christian School of Missions, and served as a District Officer, Conference Officer and President of her chapter of United Methodist Women. She was also a member of a select reading circle, the Browning Club.
She is survived by her loving husband of 64 years, James Henry Holland; by her three sons, James Henry, II of Geneva, New York; David (Karen) of Bowling Green, Kentucky; and John (Loree), also of Bowling Green. She is survived by six grandchildren, Joshua, Addie, Lilly, Emily, James and Graham, as well as by three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her brother, Quentin Risher of Tewksbury, Massachusetts, and is survived by her other brother, Barth Risher, of Logansport, Indiana.
She is also survived by five international exchange students whom she considered her “other sons,” Martin Pagh Goodwin and Kim Steen Riber of Denmark, Col. Alexander Borho of Germany, Mario Peter of Austria, and Martin Aebli of Switzerland. Visitation in Bowling Green is at the J.C. Kirby & Son Funeral Chapel, on Lovers’ Lane, Friday, December 21st from 5 to 8 p.m. Services will be held on Saturday, December 22nd at State Street United Methodist Church at 11 a.m., preceded by visitation from 9 to 11 a.m. at the church.
The service will be officiated by the Reverend Dr. Jay Smith. Interment to follow at Fairview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts are invited to aid the charitable work of State Street United Methodist Church, 1101 State Street, Bowling Green, KY 42101.
The family wishes to thank her many friends for their generous emotional support, and to express appreciation for the kind and professional care provided by Hospice of Southern Kentucky.
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