Verle Westover Holt

Verle Holt died just as the sun was rising on Friday, October 28, 2011 at Tall Pines Care Center in Show Low, Navajo County, Arizona from causes incident to her age. She was 100 years old! Verle was born on June 6, 1911 in what is now called Joseph City, Navajo County, Arizona 8 months before Arizona became a state. She was born the third of five children to the late Edwin Swen and Emma Ethel (Porter) Westover. When she was about 15 years old she moved to Utah and lived there for 2 years. In 1928 she returned back to Arizona at the age of 17. Soon after her homecoming Verle met her life's love, Warren Glen Holt. The couple was married in late November of 1928 in the Mesa Arizona Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, just a year after it was built. For 48 years they lived a happy loving life together when, on April 1, 1976, Warren passed away. Though she missed him very much for the rest of her life, she found great comfort in the fact that she and he were sealed to each other for time and all eternity. Their children now find comfort knowing that this loving couple have been reunited again. Since she moved back to Arizona in 1928, Verle lived the remainder of her life at her old stomping grounds in Joseph City. She worked for many years as a sales clerk at the Jackrabbit Trading Post 7 miles west of Joe City right off of I-40. Throughout her long life she was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served faithfully in many callings in The Church's Sunday School program and its Relief Society organization. Her favorite callings, however, where in the Primary Program. She loved teaching the children the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Verle was a woman who was blessed with many talents. She wrote poetry throughout her life and over the years wrote many hundreds of poems. She also enjoyed doing her handicrafts including crocheting and quilting. Verle also loved any activity outdoors. She grew beautiful gardens and loved to take long walks with her family and friends. However, she will be most fondly remembered for her passion of finding a good garage sale. That was a hobby she was able to enjoy even up to the last few months of her long and beautiful life. She found many "treasures" during her garage sale adventures. She was a loving mother and grandmother to her family and received great joy in serving their needs over the years. Verle Holt is survived by her children: Neldon Everett (Bobbie) Holt of Blanding, Utah, Joyce Hunt of Kimberly, Idaho, Marcus Leo (Alvie) Holt of Taylor, Arizona; 24 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren and many, many great-great-grandchildren. Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her 2 brothers: Lloyd Westover, Fenn Westover; her 2 sisters: Thea Despain, Nina Despain; 2 children: Dellis Glen Holt in 1929 and Doris Moore in October of 2005. Her visitation will be from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., Wednesday, November 2, 2011 at Owens Livingston Mortuary - Holbrook Chapel, 409 N. 1st Avenue in Holbrook, Arizona. Her funeral service will begin 1:00 P.M., Thursday, November 3, 2011 at the Joseph City Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The concluding service and interment will follow at the Joseph City Cemetery where she will be laid to rest alongside of her husband, Warren.