Nan M Holyoak

Nan McEachern Holyoak, 85, passed away February 6, 2023 in West Haven, Utah. Nan was born on October 11, 1937, to Archie and Jane Allen McEachern in Fallon, Nevada.  She was the youngest of six children and spent her childhood in Lovelock, Nevada, Gila Bend, Arizona, and Ogden, Utah. She graduated from Ogden High School Class of 1955 and continued her education at Weber State College, Utah State University, and University of Florida graduating with a degree in Physical Education from USU, and Masters of Journalism from University of Florida.

Nan married Owen Holyoak in 1958 and lived in Salt Lake City while teaching Jr. High Physical Education. She and Owen then moved to Iowa City, Iowa, and Gainesville, Florida. She and Owen had two daughters, Stacey and Lori. They later divorced and Nan relocated to Ogden, Utah where she was able to ski and live near the mountains.

Nan was fiercely independent and was a pioneer for women working in the field of collegiate sports information. She began her career with Weber State University in 1978 becoming the first woman in the Big Sky Conference and Weber State history to serve full time in a sports information office and was one of the first women nationwide to hold a full time position. During her career she edited and published the first media guides for Weber State University women’s sports. She served as the media host for numerous Big Sky conference championships and regional championships, as well as for NCAA Tournament games in 1980, 1983, 1986, and 1994. Nan loved her work, and often reflected on her career jokingly saying, “I had a pretty good job and they paid me well, so I stuck around”. She retired from Weber State in 2003. She was honored to be the recipient of the Reed K. Swenson Distinguished Service Award and to be inducted into the Weber State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010.

After retirement Nan continued to attend as many Weber State athletic events as possible, often volunteering with the stat crew. She also took the opportunity to travel extensively with friends and family, some of her favorite vacations were to Europe, China, and Hawaii.

Nan was a dedicated and loving mother and grandmother; she was proud of her grandsons and loved to remind them how handsome they were. She is survived by her daughters, Stacey (Adam) Hurdman and Lori (Dave) Henderson; grandsons, Bailey (Courtney) Henderson, Briggs (Annie) Henderson, and Brock Henderson. She is also survived by her sisters, Jo Patterson and Lou Bevan; and sister-in-law, Glo McEachern.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Archie and Jane McEachern; and siblings, Doris McEachern, Betty Fuss, and John McEachern. 

Graveside services will be held on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, at 11 a.m. at Lindquist’s Memorial Gardens of the Wasatch, 1718 Combe Rd. Friends may visit with family on Wednesday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd. A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Weber State Stewart Stadium, 3^rd Floor Sky Suites, Ogden UT 84408