Mary E. (Foland) Holt

Mary Ella (Foland) Holt,  age 88, lifelong resident of Trenton MO,  passed away peacefully Thursday August 7th 2025 at Monterey Village Assisted Living in Lawrence, Kansas.

Mary was born February 8th, 1937 east of Tindall MO to Ross and  Allie Ella (Oyler)Foland. She was married to Edward Holt on April 20th, 1957 in Trenton.  To this marriage 5 children were born.  She graduated from Trenton High School in 1955, and Trenton Junior College in 1957.  Throughout her life, Mary was deeply religious, was baptized in the Christian Church, and a lifelong adult member of the Wesley United Methodist Church.  Mary was a member of the Board of Friends of the Library,  the Senior Center Board, member of the United Methodist Women, Coordinator for Head Start, and secretary at SM Rissler School.  In addition she was a Sunday school teacher, vacation bible school teacher, and Girl Scout leader.  She was honored with the Missouri Outstanding Young Women of the Year for Beta Sigma Phi  in 1972.

Mary loved music, sang in the church choir, as well as singing groups – Silver Threads Quartet, Luella Rose Trio, and Sweet Adelines.  Mary loved to be busy and some of her favorite pastimes were crafting, leading senior citizen exercise groups, writing children’s books, golfing, and making her famous cookies for family and friends.  Her heart was happiest when she was spending time with family.  She was such a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.  She was also a foster mother to many. Her beautiful smile, sparkling blue eyes, love of life and her faith were infectious which made her “everyone’s favorite”.

She was preceded in death by stillborn son Christopher Brian, Daughter-in-law Dawn Holt, Granddaughter Maggie Ellis, her parents Ross and Allie Foland; Brothers Duane Foland and wife Belle, Dale Foland and wife Shirley; sister Sonna Wiggins, twin brother Terry Foland, Sister-in-law Mary Ellen Foland, Father-in-law and Mother-in-law Ransome and Jewell Holt, Brother’s-in-law Charles Holt, and Robert Tapscott.

Survivors include husband Edward Holt of the home, Daughter Jill and husband Scotty Akers of Hartsburg MO, Jan and husband Steve Arnold of Lawrence Kansas, sons Jeffrey Holt of KCMO, and Timothy Holt of Liberty MO, brother Novy Foland, sisters-in-law Frieda Foland, Pat Holt, and Evelyn Tapscott, and brother-in-law Billy Wiggins, grandchildren: Adam Akers, Emily (Akers)and Adam Perkins, Ethan Dockery, Andria (Dockery) and Chris Simon, Rylee Arnold, and Evan Holt, Andy Akers and wife Barbi, great grandchildren: Landon Akers, Hudson and Jace Perkins, Greta and Gunnar Simon, Ava and Acen Akers, and Carter Dickerson, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be held Saturday, September 20, 2025 at 10:00 A.M. at the Wesley United Methoidist Church, Trenton, Missouri. Burial of cremains will in Grundy Center Cemetery northeast of Trenton, Missouri. Family visitation will be held Friday, September 19, 2025 from 6:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at the Wesley United Methodist Church, Trenton. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Wesley Methodist Church, Jewett Norris Library or the North 65 Senior Center. Arrangements are Slater-Neal Funeral Home, Trenton, MIssouri.

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