Sally Ann Holt

Sally was born in her grandparents’ house in Worley, ID. She graduated from Worley in 1952, and then studied Journalism at the University of Idaho. Sally met Gerald Holt and they married on Valentine’s Day 1954. After Jerry’s graduation from WSC they headed to Ft. Huachuca, AZ for Jerry’s military service and there their son, Michael, was born. After AZ they returned to the farm in Fairfield, WA and had three more sons Kevin, Christopher, and Randy. In 1967 Sally and Jerry embarked on what she called their “grand adventure,” leaving their home in Fairfield, WA to teach in a one-room schoolhouse in Kirby, MT. They went on to teach in Decker, MT and Saltese MT, before eventually returning to Worley. Sally was a professional woman ahead of her time and never gave up on her educational goals, juggling work, kids, and husband through many years of night school prior to earning her degree from Whitworth College for Library Science. Sally spent most of her life in Worley, ID, the town her grandparents had homesteaded in. At various times she worked as the Worley City Clerk, the Worley School secretary, and finally retired as the Lakeside Middle School assistant librarian. She also used to tell stories about filling in for the phone operator, and I think she missed the party line. With the help of her sons, her friends, and her nurses Sally was able to stay in her own home with Curley until the end. Sally was active in her community, teaching Sunday school and volunteering to help organize everything from the Worley Grange Halloween parties to the Worley All School Reunion. In her retirement, she wrote for the North-Palouse Journal and her senior writing group, where she made many long-standing friendships. In her later years, Sally was active in the effort to save the Worley School from demolition, and when that endeavor failed she became one of the founding members of the Worley Historical Society and continued on as a member of their board. One of her last projects was to help curate a cookbook for the Worley Historical Society. Sally was a gift to children and dogs, and over the years she spoiled several of each. Many former Worley students remember “Miss Sally,” who always had a smile and a hug for them. A great cook, Sally will be remembered fondly by both her own children and their friends for legendary endless batches of tacos that filled the house on Fridays with extra “sons,” and became a must-take dish to fraternity rush parties each summer. She threw herself into helping her son, Kevin, raise her only grandchild, Angelique. She and Angie shared a love of reading, even if they didn’t share the same taste in books. She would go on to share that love of reading with her great-granddaughters, who can’t pull a book off their shelf without seeing an inscription from their Mama Sally. Sally is survived by her “kids,” Kevin, Chris, Randy, Angie, Matt, Katy, Mina, Curley and her son by proxy William Mellick. She was predeceased by her son, Michael, as well as her husband, mother, father, and more beloved dogs than we can list. While we’ll miss her terribly, we know she’s been waiting a long time to see Mikey. Sally is interred in Fairfield Cemetery, next to her son. A celebration will follow in the summer when it is safe for friends to gather. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Worley Historical Society or the Kootenai County Humane Society.

Sally Ann Holt

January 19, 1935 - December 1, 2020