Corliss Holley

Corliss "Cork" Holley, age 83, of Pequot Lakes, MN, died Tuesday, September 20, 2016, at his home after a courageous 15 year battle with colon cancer. Cork was born on February 28, 1933, in Pequot Lakes, MN. His parents, Arlo and Marvel (Maxson) Holley, were dairy farmers and lived 2 miles west of Pequot off County Road 17 until Cork was 16 and they moved to Litchfield, MN. Cork attended Pequot Lakes Grade School and High School. He was proud to have lettered in both football and basketball. Cork served in the Korean War from January of 1951 until January of 1954, where he became a sergeant.

Returning home, he married Lillian Hillstrom and together they had three children, Kevin, Kent and Kimberly. They lived in California for a while and then moved back to Pequot Lakes. Cork operated the Conoco Station that was owned by Lester & Vonnie Tweed. He then purchased Dashorst's Department Store and turned it into Holley's Department Store. The store was located where Lakes Latte is today.
In 1971, Cork was one of the seven Pequot men known as The Magnificent Seven who became founders and publishers of the Pequot Progressor, a weekly newspaper that would became the Country Echo. After selling the store, Cork worked construction with Don Langland for a while and then went to work for Champion Mobile Homes as a driver and serviceman.

In 1978, Cork married Sheila Schramm, whom he had met when he was with Champion Homes. Sheila owned a mobile home sales lot in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. They lived in Slayton, M., for a time where Cork managed Glen's Tire Repair Service. Cork was known for his skill in repairing and scoring race car tires in the area. They moved back to Pequot Lakes with Sheila's son, Michael, who Cork had adopted. They purchased a frozen food distributorship known as Frosty Pine Foods. Cork also managed the Pequot Feed Mill and owned and operated Pequot Lawn Spraying Service at the same time.

In 1986 John Miller came to live with them as their son and became a much loved source of pride to both Cork and Sheila. In 1988 the businesses were sold and Cork worked for Peringers in Rice, MN, as a truck driver. He retired from what was then called International Multifoods as the only driver in the nationwide company history to have driven more than 2 million miles without an accident, ticket or customer complaint - a record that still stands today. Since retirement, Cork has kept busy being an important part of Sheila's real estate career with Edina Realty.

His long list of accomplishments include: Cuyuna Fire District Fire Chief, Pequot Lakes Fire Chief with 12 years of service, Chamber of Commerce board member, Boy Scout Leader, Fourth of July committee, parade committee chair, fireworks committee, queen contest chair, founding member of the Pequot Brush Pilots Snowmobile Club, committee chair for providing bleacher seating at Pequot Lakes High School, American Legion Post 49 two term Commander and 53 year member, 40 & 8 member, 6th District American Legion Chairperson, life member of VFW Northern Post 3839, founding member of Post 49 Honor Guard and a member of the Masonic Lodge and Order of the Shrine.

Cork is survived by his wife of 38 years, Sheila; children: Kevin Holley (Mic) of Kauai, Hawaii, Kent Holley (Rosa) of Temecula, CA, Kimberly Holley of Pequot Lakes, Michael Holley (LeAnne) of Janesville, WI, John Miller (LeAnne) of Cold Spring, MN; the sons of his heart, Sparky (Gale) Gardner of Pequot Lakes and Alan (Karen) Lange of Pipestone, MN; sisters, LaVonne Tweed, Sandy Simonson and Sally Peterson, all of Pequot Lakes; the brother of his heart, Larry (Marlene) Winters of St. Cloud; 15 grandchildren; 7 great grandchildren; and many much loved nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Arlo and Marvel Holley; his sister, Sharon; infant grandchildren, Michael and Hope; brothers-in-law: Lester Tweed, Walter Simonson and Terry Bashaw.

A celebration of his life will be held at the Kline Funeral Home in Pequot Lakes on Friday, September 23 from 4 PM until 7 PM and services will be at the Pequot Lakes Baptist Church on Saturday, September 24, at 10:00 AM.