Evelyn Mary Holt

Evelyn was born July 18th, 1919 in Wapato, WA to John F. Shelley and Alice (Heckman) Shelley. Her family moved to Yakima when she was 6 years old. She graduated from Davis High School and Yakima Business College.

She married her brother’s best friend, Paul Holt, on Christmas Day 1941. During the war years they resided in Seattle, then moved to the army base in Helena, MT, returning to Yakima after the war where they soon began raising their family. Judith was born in 1944, Karen born in 1946, and Shelley in 1951.

Evelyn worked for Medical Center X-ray, now Valley Imaging, for 36 years as the office manager, retiring in 1986. In 1985, the employees nominated her for “Person of the Year” which was quite an honor to her.

She had a close and bonding relationship with her co-workers, which continued until her passing. She cherished and thanked God for them every day. You know who you are!

Evelyn loved everything: working, dancing (many weekends were spent dancing the night away), trailering, camping, cruising, traveling, yardwork, partying, laughing, but most of all her family and good friends. She never missed a birthday, or any celebration or holiday if she could help it. She was always ready to visit with or provide help to those who needed her. Many will surely remember enjoying a glass of ice tea on her beloved patio! Mom tried to find something good in everyone she met, always ready to give them the benefit of the doubt no matter the circumstances.

Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents, cherished husband of 61 1/2 years, Paul Holt, daughter Judith, her brother Eugene Shelley, sisters Betty Priestley and Josephine Clark.

Survivors include 2 daughters, Karen Waymire and husband Gil of Sedona, AZ, Shelley Lally and husband Dr. Thomas Lally of Yakima, 5 grandchildren, Janice (Corey) Heitschmidt, Dr. Scott (June) Lally, Valerie (Steve) Branch, Justin (Caroline) Waymire, Lauren (Dustin) Aimes, 10 great-grandchildren, Paul, Joy, Claire, Jude, Shepherd, James, Emma, Luke, Ethan and Cecilia, plus numerous nieces and nephews.

Mom shared with us a song she would sing to dad during her routine walks around the cemetery. We now sing this song to you dear mother and hope you hear us.

“I’ll be seeing you in all the old familiar places that this heart of mine embraces.

All day through in that small café

The park across the way.

The children’s carousel, the chestnut tree

The wishing well.

I’ll be seeing you in every lovely summer day, in everything that’s light and gay,

I’ll always think of you that way.

I’ll find you in the morning and when the night is new,

I’ll be looking at the moon but I’ll be seeing you.”

We love you, we will miss you, and we thank God for your unwavering love and hugs that you unselfishly gave us.

Services will be held at Keith and Keith Funeral Home, 902 W. Yakima Avenue at 2:00 pm Friday December 15th, 2017. Private interment at Tahoma Cemetery will follow at a later date.

The family would like to thank the many special caregivers at Landmark Care and Rehabilitation for giving Evelyn encouragement or just visiting with her. These are the things that really mattered to her.

Memorials may be made to the favorite charity of the donors in care of Keith and Keith Funeral Home.

To share a memory or condolence with Evelyn’s family please visit www.keithandkeith.com.