CL Holdren of Warrensburg, MO, passed away Friday, May 14 at age 81. CL was born on November 17, 1939 in Hartville, Missouri, the son of Gene and Ruth Holdren. He moved to Mount Vernon, Missouri when he was 15 where he graduated from high school in 1957. CL graduated from the University of Missouri – Columbia in 1961. He was a huge Mizzou fan and was very active at the University; he was a member of ROTC, Mortar Board and served as President of the student body his senior year. During his time in Columbia, he met his wife Suzanne Wann.

Following graduation, CL was stationed in Germany as a 1 st Lieutenant of the United States Army for two years, where he served our country and also gathered amazing experiences and funny stories. In 1963, he moved back to Kansas City where he worked for Commerce Bank & Trust. He and Suzanne were married on August 14, 1965 in Springfield, Missouri.

CL moved in 1964 to Warrensburg to work with his father at Holdren Funeral Home. In 1974 he became the owner of it and other funeral homes in Johnson County. In 1982, he became the owner of two car washes and a laundromat in town.  CL served Johnson County as the County Coroner from 1985–2015. He was a huge supporter of Warrensburg through his many affiliations with the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club International, The American Legion Post 131, Elks Lodge and the First Christian Church to name a few. CL was also a faithful member of the Rusty Zippers where he enjoyed one of his life's favorite pleasures, a good cup of coffee. He will always be remembered as someone who could fix anything, always was ready with a joke, a good story, or a caring hand.

What CL did best was be a loving husband, father, and role model. While work was his life, he found time for three passions, going to the lake with family, spending time in the fields hunting birds and flying, eventually piloting his own plane. CL leaves behind his wife of 55 years, Suzanne, his daughter Cynthia Simpson and husband Jon Bartek of Prairie Village, KS, and son Clark Holdren and wife Ashlee of Warrensburg, MO as well as 7 grandchildren (Carolyn, Matt, Benjamin, Andie, Jack, Will and Cate) who were the absolute joy of his life.

A visitation for CL will be held Wednesday, May 19th from 5:00–7:00 p.m. at the Sweeney-Phillips & Holdren Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, May 20th at 11:00 a.m. at the First Christian Church in Warrensburg with interment following in Sunset Hill Cemetery. Friends are encouraged to join the family following the service at 1:00 p.m. at Heroes Restaurant and Pub.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the First Christian Church in Warrensburg, Missouri or the Show-Me Christian Youth Home.