Sharon Dee Holgate

Sharon Holgate

Bakersfield, California

Sharon Dee Johnson Holgate passed away surrounded by her loved ones on January 6, 2015 in Bakersfield, California at the age of 79. Born and raised in Elsinore, Utah, the daughter of Chester and Mary Sevy Johnson. Sharon graduated from South Sevier High School in 1953, then attended Brigham Young University and College of Southern Utah, finishing her Bachelor of Arts in Education at Utah State University in 1956. She married Ronald Calvin Holgate of Monroe, Utah in 1958 in the Manti LDS Temple.

A devoted wife and mother of four, Sharon served alongside her companion of 56 years in numerous leadership positions in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, primarily working with young women at both the ward and stake level. She and her husband were integral in the establishment of Big Meadow, a Young Women’s camp in the Sierra National Forest, and spent more than 2 decades building a successful program that influenced countless lives. She served 2 full-time missions with her husband, Ron, in the South Africa Durban Mission, and a CES mission in Canberra in the Australia South Mission. They also served as temple workers for seven years in the Los Angeles Temple.

Her greatest joy was being an active participant in the lives of her posterity. Their home was a center of gospel learning and family gatherings. Her teaching reached far beyond her family to countless youth who also consider her their mother. Over 400 babies and their teenage mothers were served by Sharon’s establishment of the PACT Program in the Delano California High School District, where she helped pregnant minors finish their high school education and learn parenting skills.

She is survived by her husband, Ron; daughters and their spouses: Merrilee and Alex Shafer, Marci and Gary Carter, and Michelle and Rick Lord, all of Bakersfield, CA; daughter-in-law, Kelli Holgate, Logan, UT; sister, Jerri Davis, Annabella, UT; brother, Chet (Patricia) Johnson, Elsinore, UT. Posterity include 25 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents; son, Kevin Holgate; grandsons: Clayton Holgate and Matthew Carter; brother, John Johnson.

Her loving influence continues to be felt by her family and extends to many countries around the world.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, January 12, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. in the Central Valley 2 ^nd LDS Ward Chapel, 65 North Main, where friends may call after 12:00 Noon.　Burial will be in the Monroe City Cemetery. Funeral Directors: Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti.