Holly L. Stone, 82, of Gun Barrel City, Texas, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, April 20, 2025, with her son at her side. She departed this world for the next surrounded by the quiet comfort of familiar walls and a life well-lived.

Born on December 11, 1942, in Oak Park, Illinois, Holly was the second child of Frederick Straus and Emilene Huckaby. She is lovingly remembered by her sister, Susan Gustafson of Rockford, IL, and her brother, Rick Straus of Crawford, CO.

Holly devoted nearly three decades of her life to elementary education, guided by a deep sense of purpose and compassion for children. With a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s in environmental science, she began her teaching career in Princeton, Illinois, taught briefly while stationed with the military, and ultimately shaped countless young minds in Kewanee, Illinois.

On June 23, 1962, she married her college sweetheart, Louis David Stone of Pittsfield, Illinois, in Princeton. Their 38-year marriage was marked by warmth, laughter, and unwavering partnership until David’s passing in January 2000. Holly often spoke of David with deep affection and gratitude, describing their life together as the very foundation upon which all else was built.

Holly was the proud mother of two beloved children: Christopher, born in 1971, and Vanessa, adopted from Vietnam in 1975—a testament to her expansive heart and her admiration for a dear friend doing missionary work abroad. Her love for family was evident in every Bandera summer rodeo, Lake Hills vacation bible school class, and Medina Lake excursion made with her grandchildren who were the center of her universe in retirement.

She is survived by her children, Christopher Stone of Gun Barrel City, TX, and Vanessa Stone of Davenport, IA. Her legacy continues through her grandchildren: Malaysia Clayton of Tiffin, IA, Alexis Stovall of Davenport, IA, Thais Schuldt of East Moline, IL, and David Stone of East Moline, IL, as well as her great granddaughter, Leilani Schuldt.

Holly shared a rich and grounded life in Pipe Creek, where her brother Rick and his wife Debbie were not only neighbors, but daily companions—whether assisting with home projects or sharing quiet cups of coffee. She delighted in the simple things: traveling with her dearest friends Jim and Kay McKinney, tending to stray animals (including the occasional armadillo), and caring deeply for the world and people around her.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, David, and her cherished parents. Holly Stone was a woman of fierce kindness, deep wisdom, and quiet strength. She believed in the power of love, education, and community. Her memory will be carried forward in the laughter of her grandchildren, the compassion of her children, and the lives she touched in her years as an educator, mother, sister, and friend.

Note: Diversity, equity, and inclusion were values mother attempted to promote her entire professional career. She held democracy and the importance of democratic values in high regard while fully acknowledging America’s tragic historical failures in achieving these ideals. A teacher to her core, mom believed equal education served to promote a civil society based on compassion, fairness, and empathy. Her faith in God was manifested in the belief that we are ALL God’s children. “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you” was a verse she endeavored to embody by action. In a moment when these values, scientific research, and sanity in general are under siege, please consider donating to the following charities in lieu of sending flowers:

Alzheimer’s Association - www.alz.org – 800.272.3900

American Cancer Society – www.cancer.org – 800.227.2345

American Civil Liberties Union – www.aclu.org – 888-567-2258