Lawrence Palmer "Larry" Holt

July 4, 1939 – July 12, 2017

Lawrence Palmer Holt, known to his friends as Larry, was born July 4, 1939 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Ernest Lawrence and Martha (Peggy) Palmer Holt. He passed away July 12, 2017 at his home in Mt. Pleasant.

Larry was predeceased by his son Jason, his grandson Cody, and his brother Layne.

He is survived by his wife Helene, his children Jonathan (Kristi) Holt, Elizabeth Holt, Megan (Chris) Wright, (Susan Holt-Harris), and Jennifer Kiggins. He is also survived by grandchildren: Christopher, Jake, Dylan, Lindsay, Abby, Madison, Michael, Chance Jr., Danny, Joey, Ryder, Stefani, Palmer, Nicolas, and Justis, and two great grandsons, Braxton and Jaxx. And by siblings: Loralee, Regan, RaeLynne, by his cousin David (Barbara) Holt, and by many nieces and nephews.

Larry spent his early formative years in Springville and when he was 13 years old his family moved to San Mateo, California when his father became a purchasing agent for U.S. Steel. Larry graduated from Hillsdale High School in San Mateo in 1957 and in the spring of 1958 he attended BYU where he met his sweetheart, Helene Borresen. He served in the French East Mission from 1960-1963, after which he married Helene (on March 9, 1963) in Versoix, Switzerland. They were sealed a week later, on March 16, 1963, in the Berne Temple.

Returning to the U.S., the couple made their home in the Bay Area in California. Their first two children, Jonathan and Elizabeth, were born in Berkeley. Larry obtained an AA degree from Merritt College and they lived there until 1966 when they returned to BYU to complete their education. Their third child, Megan, was born in Provo. Larry had two majors at BYU, French and Printing/Graphic Arts. After graduation in 1967, Larry continued his graduate studies in both of these fields at BYU. In 1969 Larry joined the faculty at Southern Colorado State in Pueblo, Colorado where he taught French for a year. Their fourth child, Jason, was born in Pueblo. When Larry was contacted by Church College in Hawaii and was asked to serve as Director of the CCH press, Larry resigned from SCS and took his young family to Laie in November 1970. Their last child, Jennifer, was born in Hawaii, and in 1972, the family moved back to California and settled in Northern California close to Auburn. During the next eight years, Larry obtained a California teaching credential and pursued further graduate course work at Chapman and at Sacramento State. Larry served as an instructor, a counselor, and later became Assistant Director of the Forty-Niner Regional Occupation Program (ROP) which included both Placer and Nevada Counties.

In 1980 the family moved back to Utah and Larry joined the faculty at Utah Technical College. At the time, there were only two other instructors in his department. Along with his colleagues, Larry helped to build a program in Arts and Visual Communications (AVC) and is regarded as one of the program's founders. He served as the department chair, on the coop recognition committee of the college, and was the Utah State Cooperative Education Association President. In 1989 he was recognized by the Graphic Communications Teacher Institute sponsored by the Graphic Arts Education and Research Foundation (GAERF) for his excellent work. In 1991 he achieved the rank of professor. In 1992, he received the Wilson W. Sorenson Award for his outstanding to the advancement of the philosophy and practice of cooperative education. He also received professional awards from the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation, WACWEE (Western Association of Cooperative Work Experience Educators), and the Coop Employer Recognition Committee. He received a service award from Kiwanis and was selected as a Master Teacher of Graphic Communications by the Utah State Vocational Industrial Clubs of America. He served for years as a delegate in the faculty senate and in 1995 was elected Faculty Senate President. In 1999, he received the Excellence in Service award from the college.

Larry loved his students. He immensely enjoyed being an advisor to them in the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America (VICA) and accompanying them to national contests. As numerous honors and awards of gold, silver, and bronze were repeatedly bestowed upon the students year after year, UVSC became recognized nationwide as having a strong program which produced award winning students in graphics and commercial art. During summers he occasionally taught French classes because it was a way to keep up with the French language and culture he so loved. During his career span at the college, he witnessed the steady growth of the student body in general. He saw the small technical college grow to become a community college, then a state college, and at the year of his retirement it was announced that the college was to be a university. At this time, there were over 30 instructors in his department, including full time and adjunct.

Larry took his citizenship in the community and nation seriously. In Provo where he and his family lived for 32 years, he served as chairman of a local precinct of the Republican Party. He campaigned for candidates at election time. He served as a merit badge counselor for the Utah National Parks Council as occasion presented itself. He spearheaded sub for Santa projects with his VICA students. All in all, being of service and being sensitive to the needs of others were part of Larry's personality. A life-long active member of the LDS Church, Larry served in various capacities in the Church wherever he lived (California, Utah, Hawaii, and Colorado), but it's probably during the years of raising a family and living in Auburn, California, then Provo, Utah that the memories stand out. He also spoke of his service in a BYU bishopric as one of the most memorable times of his life. More recently, he grew to absolutely love and cherish the high priest brethren in the Mt. Pleasant 2nd Ward.

A perfectionist at heart, the old adage, AIf something is worth doing, it=s worth doing well,@ could have been Larry's motto. In anything he undertook to master, he applied his personal skills and talent vigorously. He became, for example, a gun enthusiast and was regarded by many as an expert marksman and authority about guns. He served as a volunteer range master at the Provo City Rifle and Pistol ranges for years. He would generously give of his time to teach and to help others to shoot and to manage their guns properly. Helping young men to earn a merit badge was one of his greatest delights. He was a member of the NRA and supported the Utah Shooting Sports Council.

To family and friends, Larry will be remembered for his sense of humor, for his expertise with cars and guns, and for his love of home. There was never any place he would rather be than at home and with loved ones and that includes his dogs!

To the Bishopric, High Priest Group Leader, and numerous friends who have been so kind and thoughtful all in the family express our thanks to you.

Funeral services will be held Monday July 17, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. in the Mt. Pleasant LDS Stake Center (295 S State) with a viewing from 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. prior to services at the church. Interment in the Mt. Pleasant City Cemetery.

Online condolence rasmussenmortuary.com