Jay Ronald Holt

Jay Holt

Venice, Utah

Our noble husband, father, son, brother, uncle, and friend, Jay Ronald Holt, 44, passed away on a beautiful Sabbath day, March 23, 2014 in Venice, after a courageous battle with cancer. He began his life on May 23, 1969 in Payson, a son of Ed and Berta Lou Dansie Holt. He grew up on a farm in Palmyra with his two brothers, Todd and Cody.

Jay loved the great outdoors: farming, raising market lambs for stock shows, fishing, hunting, and running. He trained hard for and enjoyed participating in half-marathons and other "road races". He was genuinely kind to everyone. He honorably served as a full-time LDS missionary in the England Coventry mission, 1989-1991. He was forever a missionary through his excellent example of goodness.

Jay married his best friend Michelle "Mitch" Hales in the Jordan River Temple, November 20, 1992. And they were blessed with four children. He was an amazing husband and father and always took time for his wife and each of his children. He spent many hours coaching all kinds of sports. Some of his children’s favorite experiences were those they had playing sports with teams their father coached, dancing with his "gorgeous girls", and bow hunting with his boys.

He was employed with Macy’s in Spanish Fork during his college years, following graduation from BYU, he became an employee of Western Ag Credit where he met many new people and became friends with each one. He was always a joy to his parents. Jay and his brothers have always been best friends, and as a result their children have grown up with cousins as best friends. Jay considered Michelle’s family to be his own and enjoyed many hunting/camping trips and Lake Powell vacations with them.

Jay was loved by many and his legacy of thoughtfulness, kindness, and his love for the Savior, Jesus Christ will continue to influence others for good for many, many years.

Our hearts are filled with gratitude for the wonderful doctors and the staff at Huntsman Cancer Institute. Thank you so much Western Ag Credit for your many acts of kindness, your generosity and your friendships. We sincerely appreciate the Venice Ward and the entire Sevier County for their innumerable acts of kindness and those who prepared and delivered food to our family over the course of time. Thank you to our friends and family for your love and thoughtfulness. A special thanks to Stacy Hales for her knowledge and sweet service during Jay’s final hours. We are especially grateful for the stake presidency’s and Bishop Allen’s time, expertise, faith, and prayers. To all of you who are unmentioned, our sincere thanks—your sweet acts of service, your phone calls and visits are so appreciate.

Jay is survived by his wife, Michelle; sons: Hunter and Dallin; daughters: Josie and Jamie, all of Venice; his parents of Palmyra; brothers: Todd (Nanelle) Holt, Delta; Cody (Gena) Holt, Palmyra; father-in-law, Ned Hales, Spanish Fork; mother-in-law, Bonnie Hales-Harden, Spanish Fork; brothers-in-law: Layne (Alaina) Hales, Ferron; Jeff (Stacy) Hales, Spanish Fork; sister-in-law: Amy (Wally) Dodds, Panguitch; as well as countless aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends who love him dearly.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2014 at 12:00 Noon in the Richfield Stake Center, 159 North 400 West, where friends may call Friday from 6-8 p.m. and Saturday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Burial will be in the Venice Cemetery. Funeral Directors: Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti. Online guestbook at www.maglebymortuary.com