Margie Hurst Holt

Margie Hurst Holt passed away on Sunday, February 11, 2018, after a having lived a remarkable life just short of 93 years. She was born the eldest child of Philip and Mabel Wright Hurst in Blanding, Utah, on February 24, 1925.

Margie graduated from San Juan High School in 1943 and started her college education at Snow College, later transferring to BYU, where she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature in 1947.  For a year following her graduation, she taught third grade at Blanding Elementary.  Her deep interest in speech therapy resulted from her own struggles with speech as a young girl and led her to the University of Utah where she earned a Master’s degree in Speech and Hearing Pathology in 1950; she was the first woman to graduate from the University of Utah with this degree.  

For several years Margie worked as a speech therapist, beginning with the Easter Seals Society in North Dakota. She later conducted a speech and hearing program in Wyoming and eventually became the Executive Director of the Wyoming Easter Seals Society.  While living in Thermopolis, Wyoming, she met Robert J. Holt, a widower, and his two children, Lee and Kathi. She and Bob were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on June 10, 1960.  She left her career in order to become a wife and mother.  The Holts moved to Davis County, Utah, where two children, John and Terri, were welcomed into the family.

Following Bob’s death in 1978, Margie once again entered the workforce, starting with a part-time job with the Davis County School District as a teacher’s aide and substitute teacher.  She worked hard to become recertified as a speech-language pathologist and then worked for the Box Elder School District.  When she retired in 1996, she was recruited by the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry to begin schools in Ogden and Salt Lake City for children with speech and learning disorders which she did for many more years.    

Margie was passionate about music, particularly the violin, and served as the State Secretary for the Utah Old Time Fiddlers Association for many years.  Several of her grandchildren now excel at playing the fiddle, guitar, mandolin, bass violin, and piano, thanks to Grandma’s loving encouragement.  She was involved in other community service, including as P.T.A. President at Doxey Elementary and Clearfield High School.  Margie loved to write stories, poems, biographies, and resource materials for speech pathologists.  Late in life, and to the amazement of many, she self-published three novels.  Truly, the best treasures she leaves behind are the pages filled with her thoughts, stories, and advice.  Not one to waste time, up until two days before her death, she was putting the finishing touches on her autobiography with the help of her treasured friend, Connie Gough.  Even when her sight was mostly lost to her, she continued to be a devoted learner and reader, devouring several books each month from the Utah Library for the Blind.  As soon as she finished reading the Book of Mormon, she began again, reading it more times than can be counted.  She was a gifted seamstress and knew how to make her own patterns.  She made most of her own clothes and those of her children while she was a young woman and mother.  Bob was proud of how classy she always looked in her beautifully designed coats and skirts.  Not one to be fussy with her appearance, she was blessed with thick, pretty hair that didn’t require anything other than a comb.  She kept a lovely garden and yard in the years she lived in her home in Sunset, Utah.  While dictating her autobiography this past summer to her granddaughter, Ainsley, she commented that she’d like to be remembered as a "character." She knew she was different and believed it was her responsibility to be so, in order to bless other people and make the world a better place.  

She was a humble, truly converted, testimony-bearing, gospel-living, service-giving, truth-telling, temple-attending member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where she held numerous church callings, including Relief Society President (twice) and Gospel Doctrine Teacher many times.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ was indeed central to Margie’s life and choices.

Margie is survived by her children:  Lee (Barbara) Holt, Kathi (Dennis) Ricks, John (Gina) Holt, and Terri Nista; 11 grandchildren:  Kristen (Mark) Floyd, Ryan Holt, Kimberly (Dustin) Johnson, Amy (Scott) Eggerman, Emmett (Michelle) Ricks, Emily (Kenneth) Holmes, Robert (Cortney) Ricks, Anna (Ben) Bates, Alex (Katlynn) Holt, Ainsley (Dallin) Holley, and Amelia Nista, and 20 great-grandchildren.  She is also survived by two siblings, Howard Hurst and Mabel June Palmer.  She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and four of her siblings:  Lois, Terry, Scott and Leonard.  Margie also leaves behind scores of friends and associates, young and old, who have been influenced by her goodness. 

Margie's family would like to express deep gratitude for the excellent and loving care from Brighton Hospice and angel nurses Dee and Alice; social worker, Sunny, and CNA, Kalena.  A very tender and heartfelt thanks to all the loving staff of Apple Tree Assisted Living for giving Mom a happy home and loving care for over 10 years; Margie loved the Apple Tree and was thrilled to return back home there just a few short weeks before her passing.  Special thanks to Jenn Griswold, NP for the very personal and loving connection she had with Margie and Margie's family in Kaysville; it has meant the world. 

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, February 17, 2018, at the Gailey Park Chapel, 331 S. 50 W., Kaysville, UT.  Friends and family may visit Friday, between 6 and 8 p.m., at Russon Mortuary, 1941 N. Main, Farmington, or Saturday, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church.  Interment will be at the Syracuse City Cemetery.