Cecilia passed away peacefully March 20, 2016, in her residence at Regency on Whidbey in Oak Harbor.

She is survived by her three sons, Don Holt, Harry Holt and Richard Holt, as well as seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Cecilia was born in Seattle to Harry and Elva (Wanamaker) Starks.

During her childhood, Cecilia’s parents managed a number of hospitality venues around western Washington. Most memorable for her were her junior and senior high school years when she lived at the Everett Golf and Country Club. Her mother managed food services and her father supervised grounds maintenance operations.

After receiving her college degree in nursing and registered nurse credential, Cecilia worked for a short time at a hospital in Burlington while living with her parents in Coupeville.

At a New Year’s Eve dance in Coupeville in 1947, she met the love of her life, Leland Holt. In July 1948, they were married in Coupeville with 400 guests in attendance. After a brief honeymoon in British Columbia, she left her “country club life” to spend her next 62 years on the family farm in Oak Harbor with Leland.

For Cecilia, the farm was a totally new adventure. She maintained the house and helped Lee with many of the farm chores. They sold milk to Darigold, raised chickens, turkeys and some beef cows. Many times her nursing skills were needed to help a sick animal or a family member.

Cecilia and Lee were also there to help their neighbors. In the 1950s, Lee would take his threshing and binding machines to different farms in the area to harvest grain. Neighboring farmers would gather to help each other on their respective farms. Cecilia was always in the middle of preparing the hearty mid-day meal for the crew. The men would eat first and return to the threshing chores. The table was then cleared and reset for the women and children to eat. In a few days, the process would be repeated on another farm. Later on, in the 1960s, Cecilia took great pride in driving the hay truck and supervising the crew while Lee tended to other hay-making duties.

Cecilia and Lee enjoyed family, friends and their country lifestyle. They were active in the Rebekahs and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. For about 10 years, she was also a 4-H leader in both a cooking and a swimming club. She was a Red Cross water safety instructor at several local beaches and at the NAS Whidbey pool.

Cecilia always enjoyed hosting a potluck picnic with family and friends. For more than 60 years, the highlight of their summers was their hosting of the annual Holt family picnic on the last Sunday in July. At its peak, 95 family members and friends were in attendance. Cecilia and Leland enjoyed their travels after Lee retired. She and her girlfriends loved doing weekly ceramics together. She was always ready to go fishing and camping with family and friends.

Cecilia enriched the lives of so many around her. She will be greatly missed and will remain in our hearts forever. She will rest alongside her late husband, Leland Holt, at the Maple Leaf Cemetery in Oak Harbor.

Join us in a celebration of her life at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 7, at Wallin Funeral Home, 1811 NE 16th Ave #A, Oak Harbor, with Pastor Andy Mahoney officiating. Please visit her page in the Book of Memories at www.wallinfuneralhome.com to share memories and condolences.