Ethel Dora Bates Holt

Ethel Dora Bates Holt

April 20, 1910 ~ July 20, 2008

LAYTON a€" Ethel Dora Bates Holt, 98, passed away peacefully Sunday, July 20, 2008 at 11 p.m. at her place of residence, Chancellor Gardens in Clearfield, Utah.

She was born April 20, 1910 in Plain City, Weber County, Utah to Thomas Richard Bates and Dora Evaline Taylor. Ethel''s earliest childhood days were spent on a farm near her Grandfather and Grandmother Bates''s home in the northeast section of Plain City. She was the first daughter and second child in her family. Her brothers and sisters are in order of birth: Richard LaVerne (deceased), Earl Thomas (deceased), Evelyn Rachel (deceased), Ivan James (deceased), Ruth Mary (deceased), Carl Robert (deceased), Lucille, and Albert "D" (deceased).

Ethel enjoyed her early childhood years in Plain City and remembered many events, celebrations and family picnics. Ethel attended the Farr West Elementary School for two or three years and then finished grade school at the Plain City Elementary School. When Ethel was a young girl she remembered going to shop with the family in Ogden in the wagon. The road led down through the Ogden River and as they forded the river she would get her feet wet inside the wagon.

Ethel attended the new Weber County High School in Ogden, Utah. The school was so newly constructed that she remembered as a sophomore entering the school with planking still in place. Ethel graduated from Weber County High School on May 27, 1929.

After Ethel graduated from high school, she found a job working at the Thomas Dee Memorial Hospital where she prepared the food trays for the patients. She was hoping to become a nurse. She met, became engaged to, and married Graydon Stoker Holt. She married Graydon on December 22, 1930 in the Salt Lake Temple.

Graydon began to build the house that Ethel and he would live in before they were married on the Holt farm in Clearfield (this area would later come to be known as the Navy Supply Depot then Freeport Center). This home was a boon for Ethel as it was the first home she lived in that had indoor plumbing. Ethel and Graydon lived on the farm for approximately eleven years when WWII broke out and the government came into the area and condemned their land for use as a Navy Base. Ethel and Graydon were given only ten days to relocate. This was a heart-breaking experience for Ethel.

The house was quickly moved to a new site in Clearfield along a street with others who were evicted as well. After another six or seven years, Graydon and Ethel bought a farm in Layton and built a new house for the family. They lived in this house until the death of Graydon. Shortly thereafter, Ethel moved to a new location in Layton, off of the farm as the land had been sold for various business and residential interests. When more help was needed, Ethel moved into Chancellor Gardens where she resided for a few months before her death.

Ethel''s children were a joy to her. Norine Holt (Stan) Moss (now deceased); Marilyn Holt (Stevan a€" deceased) Tanner; Dora Ann Holt (Jerry) Stevenson; Ruth Bates Holt (Paul) Barker; Paul Graydon (LeAnn) Holt. Her children had a happy and carefree childhood. Their lives were filled with fun activities, wonderful friends, good neighbors, a close-knit family, a unified church upbringing, and a safe haven. It was well known in the neighborhood that the Holt girls were dressed like "dolls." Additionally, Ethel taught her family how to work as there were always chores to be completed inside and outside the house. Through her loving care, she instilled self-confidence, a work ethic, family pride, and a religious belief for which her posterity will always be blessed.

Ethel''s children remember the many shopping excursions that were turned into such fun outings. Saturday mornings were spent cleaning the house and by noon, Ethel and her daughters were dressed up and ready to go to town to do some shopping. There are many pleasant memories in the family of these special "Mother and Daughter" outings.

Ethel always loved taking car rides through the area. She was always excited to see the fields as they were being plowed or newly planted. She also loved to see the growth of homes and new stores that continued to spring up throughout the area.

Ethel did beautiful handwork. She was a great seamstress and she made many crocheted dollies and afghans over the years. Most of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren have enjoyed snuggling up with one of her afghans. She enjoyed making flannel quilts for her family, also. Ethel was a wonderful teacher and her creativity was shown in the many flannel board stories she made for church lessons.

Ethel enjoyed many church callings including many years in the Primary Association, Sunday School, Young Women''s Organization, and the Relief Society. She especially enjoyed working in the Salt Lake and Ogden Temples as an ordinance worker and supervisor. She was dedicated to her church and her family and her family has prospered because of her faith and selfless devotion.

She enjoyed the many trips she took in her later years with her sisters Lucille Sommers of Morgan and Evelyn West of Ogden (now deceased). Family reunions were a joy to her as well.

Funeral services will be held Friday, July 25, 2008 at 11 a.m. at Lindquist''s Layton Mortuary, 1867 No. Fairfield Road. Friends and family may call Friday from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. at the mortuary.

Interment, Syracuse City Cemetery.

Special thanks from Ethel''s family goes to Horizon Hospice, especially Holly Bartlett, R.N. and to the Chancellor Gardens CNAs for their loving care of Ethel.