Donald (Don) Crouch Holt passed away on December 19, 2023. He was born October 17, 1930, to William Clayton Holt and Wanda Estelle (Crouch) Holt in Fort Worth, Texas .
Don grew up on the East side of Fort Worth. As a boy, he spent many summers with his grandparents in Santo, Texas. There were many stories of helping his grandfather and grandmother with farm chores. Peaches were cut and dried on cheesecloth on top of a shed. His grandmother had a dough bowl where she kept flour and made breads in the middle. Trips to Santo and back to Fort Worth were made riding the train.
As a teenager, he delivered groceries for his parents to customers in the neighborhood. He raised chickens and rabbits behind the store. This became a life-long hobby, and he gained recognition across the United States and into Canada for his show chickens.
After high school, Don attended Texas Wesleyan College in Fort Worth. He went on to seminary in Atlanta, Georgia, where he attended Emory University, achieving a Master’s degree in theology.
In 1964, Don married Polly Flenniken. They raised three children together. They moved many times as a pastor’s family, serving ten Methodist churches in three conferences. After 40 years in ministry, Don retired from the Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church to a new home outside of Linden, Texas, where he continued raising show chickens and rabbits until he was 80 years old.
Don was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Polly, of 58 years; and his sister, Janette Taylor. He is survived by his children: daughter, Cindy Hightower and husband David of Winnsboro, TX; son, Gary Holt and wife Kim of Lipan, TX; and son, Michael Holt of Henderson, TX; seven grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; and two great great-grandchildren.
Services for Rev. Holt will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 23, 2023 at Reeder-Davis Chapel. There will be a time of visitation beginning at 10:30 Saturday and lasting until service time. Burial will follow at Linden Cemetery under the direction of Reeder-Davis Funeral Home in Linden.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a memorial donation to Linden Methodist Church, P.O. Box 338, Linden, Texas 75563 or Linden Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 863, Linden, Texas 75563.