Four years ago, today my dear friend left this earth, and I wrote Shine On Holly Port, Shine On. And I am here to report that the light she left on earth has not dimmed. Holly Port still shines on. She comes up in regular conversation, she shows up in my actions as a friend, she still inspires others, and she is greatly loved and deeply missed by many.
Holly Anne Port, 45, died in Colorado Springs on February 7, 2020 at 8:20 p.m., with her husband Chris by her side, from complications related to soft tissue sarcoma. Holly fought her cancer with incredible optimism as she praised God even in the darkest parts of the storm. A few days before Holly passed, Rachel and I visited her in the hospital. We played, “This is how I fight my battles” by Chris Tomlin over and over again as waves of pain washed over her. The entirety of the loss hit me when this song played at her funeral, because she was no longer beside me fighting her battle. She fought for her life with ultimate faith in her known God in the middle of her unknown healing—now she is in heaven experiencing the ultimate healing.
Holly was born in Mobile, Alabama on November 28, 1974. She met her husband, Chris, when she was only 12 years old. They had the kind of love story most people dream about.
Holly was the founder of Lotion Bar Cafe, located in Colorado Springs, where she not only sold soap, bath fizzes, and other bath and body products, but also taught classes and served the community around her. She is the author of Make it Fizz: A Guide to Making Bathtub Treats. Holly was dubbed the Bath Fizzie Queen by the handcrafted bath and body industry in which she worked, mentored and inspired. Her expertise and infectious joy made her a popular teacher and speaker at conferences across the US. Over the years as a member of Indie Business Network and the Handcrafted Soap & Cosmetic Guild, Holly impacted the lives and businesses of a multitude of people. The entire handcrafted industry and her customers mourned the loss of Holly.
Holly Port was a wife and mother first. She was deeply devoted to her family, but she touched the lives of everyone around her. Holly was the most enthusiastic cheerleader as a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, and mentor. She left behind a tremendous legacy of love and support.
As those who loved Holly mourned her death, person after person spoke of how Holly impacted their lives. The overwhelming expressions have been “I arrived alone, and Holly took me in,” “I was hurting, and Holly reached out to me,” “I needed to learn something, and Holly taught me.” Holly’s generosity of her time, knowledge, support, friendship, and energy is a benchmark all those who knew her will strive to reach. A light as bright as Holly’s does not go out simply because she’s moved onto heaven. She passed her light onto us all to carry on for her. She left rays of encouragement and love in the lives of strangers and loved ones alike. And I can still see that light in so many of the lives she touched.
Holly loved coffee, all things that bubble and fizz, glitter bombs, her people, her dogs, Chicken Salad Chick, Rachel Hollis, inspirational and faith-based music and quotes, hugs, Christmas, her Golden Girls, her family, and her God.
Her loved ones have said Holly was a light in this stormy world, a legend, the real deal, generous, motivating, an inspiration, selfless, forgiving, persevering, compassionate, hardworking, humorous, creative, a true friend, a shining light of Jesus, a mother figure, a superhero, authentic, adventurous, a beautiful soul, a true beacon of hope and light, a prankster, compassionate, creative, a visionary, a ray of sunshine, a shoulder to cry on, and the absolute best mom. Holly lived in the moment. She was full of out of control joy and celebratory infectious giggles. She gave soul touching and otherworldly hugs, and was truly a force of nature. It is hard to capture the essence of Holly, because the magic of Holly was so uncontainable.
She shines on. May she will always shine on through me and her beloved friends and family.
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