Louis Raymond Holt

Master Gunnery Sergeant Louis Raymond Holt, son of the late Elmer and Minnie Mae (Tate) Holt, was born on June 22, 1929 at Mountain Grove, Missouri and departed this life on January 22, 2017 at Autumn Oaks Caring Center of Mountain Grove, following a long illness. He was 87 years and 7 months of age.
Raymond was the oldest of 10 children and was raised on a dairy farm in the Mountain Grove area. Times were tough and he was a hard worker on the family farm. He attended Little Creek and Shady Grove country schools where he and his sister, Velma, would walk each day. Later, he stayed with grandparents, Eli and Mary Tate, to attend school with aunts, Nellie and Zula Tate. Raymond worked at Tindles feed store and lived with his aunt and uncle, Zula and Arthur Junior Plunk and family. Raymond later went to Shoshone, Idaho to work on a ranch owned by his uncle and aunt, George and Neva Holt.
Raymond was drafted into the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War on January 8, 1952. He was stationed in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and southern California throughout his career serving his country for 26 years, 7 months, and 21 days. He served his country proudly and honorably. His career included numerous tours overseas including Korea, Japan, Vietnam, and Cuba. Raymond was known among his comrades as, Tim or Top.
While home on leave, in 1955, he met the love of his life, Joyce Owens. It was love at first sight. They were united in marriage on September 15, 1957 by Rev. Homer Smith at the home of Ernest and Lola (Purgeson) Owens, Joyces parents. Two children were born to this union, Tammy, born in South Carolina and Doyle, born in North Carolina.
After serving honorably and retirement, Raymond joined the VFW Post 3770. He was also a member of American Legion Post #30 and FRA Branch 364.
Raymond accepted Christ as his personal Savior and made it a priority to serve the Lord and attend services at the base chapels. Later in life he attended Mountain Valley Free Will Baptist Church of Mountain Grove.
Besides his parents, Raymond was preceded in death by two brothers: Dyane Holt and Sherman Ivan Holt; one sister: Evelynn Baney; and his father-in-law and mother-in-law: Ernest and Lola Owens.
Raymond is survived by his loving wife of nearly 60 years: Joyce Holt of the home; one son: Doyle Holt and wife, Michele, of Carl Junction, Missouri; one daughter: Tammy Ashlin and husband, Harold, of Mountain Grove; three brothers: Lonnie Holt and wife, Charlotte, of Mountain Grove, Wyane Holt and wife, Barbara, of Salem, Arkansas, and Vernon Holt and wife, Lanea, of Mackie, Idaho; three sisters: Velma Harrison and husband, Lyle, of Mountain Grove, Leona Sanders of Wichita, Kansas, and Thelma Faye Kincheloe and husband, Von, of Kansas City, Missouri; four sisters-in-law: Jean Moore, Dorothy Stigall, Margie Carter, and Linda Keys; six grandchildren: Heather M. Ashlin, Dalton Ashlin, Wyatt Ashlin, Liam D. Holt, Anna Kiera Holt, and Tyne Michele Holt; as well as many other relatives and friends who will greatly miss him.


Visitation: Thursday, January 26, 2017 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM at the funeral home.

Funeral Service: Friday, January 27, 2017 at 2:00 PM at the funeral home.

Burial: Hillcrest Cemetery, Mtn. Grove.

Memorial Contributions: Lymphoma Society or Hospice Compasses c/o the funeral home.