February is littered with milestones of loss. On February 7th of last year I was absorbing the waves of grief as my dear friend Holly Port passed away. Last year I posted Shine on Holly Port, Shine On and this year I am sharing her obituary from her funeral. At her funeral I was overcome with grief as they played music that we listened to over and over again at her bedside in the hospital. Listen and imagine the faith it took to celebrate even as her body was betraying her.
through this song over and over again.
that she would soon know what I could only imagine still.
Obituary: 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 this cancer with incredible optimism as she praised God even in the darkest parts of the storm. She fought for her life with ultimate faith in her known God in the middle of her unknown healing—today she is in heaven experiencing the ultimate healing.
Holly was born in Mobile, Alabama on November 28, 1974 to Marvin and Deborah Anne (Marsh) Prather. She attended John S. Shaw High School in Mobile and graduated in 1993 from Widefield High School in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She met her future 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 mourn the loss of Holly. Her family and team at Lotion Bar Cafe will carry on her legacy by reopening her store and living out her vision.
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 leaves 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.
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.
Holly is survived by her husband Chris Port; son, Cody Port; son, Josh Port and his wife BreeAnna who are expecting Holly’s first grandchild; mother, Deborah Prather, Momma Anne and sister Kym Holmes-Prather; her cousins, Lexi Fennel and Megan Ellis & best friend, Hollie Sharp. She was preceded in death by her father, Robert (Bob) Marvin Prather.
It wasn’t that she wasn’t afraid, but that she wouldn’t allow fear to own her.
We shared a few ‘amens’ while we listened to this song at her hospital bed.
What a beautiful tribute to Holly!! I met her a few times before I started soapmaking. At the Garden of the gods event at Rockledge ranch was my first time meeting her. I even went to our house before she opened her shop and purchased a birthday present once. She’s everything you have described for sure!!! What a precious Sister she was!!! It’s so hard to believe she’s gone. Never even knew she was sick. God bless you!