Dona Marie Holt

Dona Marie Holt, a long-time resident of Irving, Texas, passed away on December 23, 2023, at age 81, at the Texas Masonic Retirement Community in Arlington, Texas.  She was born in Fort Worth, Texas on July 8, 1942 to Margaret Marie Kelley and Raymond Gadie Rucker, Jr.

Dona’s parents worked for her grandparents, Elma D. Kelley and Cenia Evelyn Troop, who owned Kelley- Coppedge Inc. in Fort Worth.  This allowed the family to live in many towns through-out Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico.  She graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in Dallas, Texas in 1960, and attended North Texas State University – working part-time for the History Department - for three years until 1964 where she studied Art Education with the goal of becoming a medical illustrator, and art educator. 

A woman of deep faith, Dona was formally a member of St. Stephens Presbyterian Church in Irving, Texas where she served on multiple committees, and most recently as a member of the Woodhaven Presbyterian Church, Irving, Texas.  She believed in supporting the health and educational growth of children, and advancing the personal development and networking opportunities for women in the field of business.  Dona was a volunteer and member, holding several leadership positions, within various DFW area nonprofits such as:  the PTA; assisting the Masons and Shriners in fundraising projects; and, as president of the Women’s Chamber of Commerce which transitioned under her leadership to become the Irving Women’s Network (IWN) in which she chose to remain on the board as secretary.  She was instrumental in establishing the IWN’s $1,000 Scholarship for Project PASS in Memory of Sandy Lobdell and the IWN Clothes Closet. 

Professionally, Dona was a highly skilled executive secretary and assistant to CEO’s and top-level management at companies such as American Airlines, the Brock Talent Agency, International Association of Machinists-Irving, Abbott Laboratories, Rucker Atlas-Bradford, and Flintkote Company.  In 1980, she joined her husband, Chuck Holt, as secretary/treasurer of Chuck Holt’s Body Shop in Irving until their retirement in 2019.

Dona is survived by:  her husband of 45 years, Ira “Chuck” Holt; her two children from her first marriage with James Gilbert Montague, Cheryl Montague-Nolting and Kevin Scott Montague; son-in-law, Kevin Nolting; and, her granddaughter, Amanda Nolting.  She further leaves behind to cherish her memory are:  three siblings David Munden, Jo Ann Gunnell and her husband John, Mark Munden and his wife Laurie; as well as her niece, Bonnie Lloyd and her husband Patrick; and, multiple other nieces, nephews, and cousins.  Finally, along with her husband, Chuck Holt, she helped to raise a step-grandchild, Ricky Helt, and three step-daughters who include:  Lena Holt, Tina Holt, and Dana Schoon and her husband Rick Schoon.  Additional step-grandchildren include Susan Parks, Denise Cheek, and Chris Munoz Schoon.

A memorial service and Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, January 20, 2024, at 2:00 pm, at Woodhaven Presbyterian Church in Irving, Texas located at 3650 N O'Connor Rd, Irving, Texas 75062.  A reception will follow.  Dona’s favorite colors were blue and turquoise, and participants are welcome to wear these colors in her honor.  Following a private family spreading of her ashes in the spring, Dona’s urn will be placed in a family plot at the Acton Cemetery in Acton, Texas. 

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be sent to her husband, Chuck Holt at 1501 West Division Street, KS-204, Arlington, Texas 76012. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that those who wish to express sympathy consider making a memorial gift to either the Scottish Rite for Children in Dallas, Texas; Shriners Hospitals for Children in Galveston, Texas; or, the Children’s Program at Woodhaven Presbyterian Church in Irving, Texas.