Holly Spurlock

Holly Spurlock, of Bloomfield Hills, (Jan. 4, 1925-March 23, 2018) integrated his commitment to God, family and work in remarkable ways. He grew up in Detroit, the youngest of seven children of working class parents from Tennessee, served as a pilot in the Army Air Corp in 1944 and 45, married Esther Rose Orrin (d. 1999) and founded Monarch Tool and Gauge, a tool and die shop shortly after demobilization. All the while he was a committed Christian and attended The Covenant Community Church in Redford and then spent the next 40 years in leadership positions at Highland Park Baptist Church in Southfield, and was one of the founders of Southfield Christian School. Holly’s friendships revolved around other men who also were committed to God in workplace and church. Harold McDonald, Paul Johnson, Don Woodworth, Ralph Londal, Casey Rost, Al Kuhnle, Dave Pelton, Bill Outland Jim Root, Bill Pew, Braz Pryor and many others were stalwart friends who together built and supported Christian ministries throughout the Detroit area. Integrating that faith with his family life with Esther and children, Sue, Doug, and Rick (plus 13 grandkids and another 13 great grandkids) was one of the most significant accomplishments of his life as he provided a model of how to love his wife Esther, how to work diligently with integrity in running Monarch Tool, and how to flesh out his commitment to Jesus Christ in the ministries of Highland Park Baptist Church and Southfield Christian School. A few years after Esther's death Holly was introduced to a beautiful woman, Evelyn Miller. They were married in 2005 and spent wonderful years together first in Naples, Florida and then in Gainesville, Georgia. Evelyn’ s delightful family, Melanie, Terri, Cheryl and Philip and their families, welcomed Holly into their hearts and it was their tender, loving care that carried Holly during his last few years of failing health. We will be celebrating Holly’s life at a memorial service in the Fellowship Hall at Highland Park Baptist Church at 11:00 AM Saturday, April 7. The family will be there at 10:00am to greet and welcome all old friends and reminiscence. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Southfield Christian School, a fitting memorial for Holly’s lifetime work. Memorials may be directed to the Southfield Christian School. Please share a memory at www.rggrharris.com.