Mary Helen Holt, 87, of Farmer City, passed away at 2:20 p.m. Saturday (Feb. 4, 2017) at the Farmer City Rehabilitation and Health Care.
Her celebration of life service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Calvert-Belangee-Bruce Funeral Home, Farmer City, with Jerry Hawn officiating. There will be no visitation. Private family inurnment will be in Greenleaf Cemetery, Farmer City. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Mary Helen Holt Memorial Fund, in care of Heartland Bank, Farmer City. The funds will be for the Carle Hospice Program and Farmer City Rehabilitation and Health Care.
Mary Helen was born Oct. 18, 1929, in Blue Ridge Township, Piatt County, a daughter of Albert Linuel and Bertha Maude Van Gorder Larson. She married Richard Eugene “Gene” Holt on July 9, 1949, in Farmer City. He passed away Dec. 22, 2009.
She is survived by five daughters, Jan (Joe) Necessary, Heyworth; Chris (Ken) Hermann, DeLand; Anita (Mac) Harden, Farmer City; Diana (Chuck Penny) Thomas, Weldon; and Nanci Holt, Farmer City; eight grandchildren, Mike (Joanna Powell) Necessary, Travis (Melissa) Hermann, Brett (Janelle) Hermann, Daci (Joe) Lehnert, Josh (Jesse) Harden, Jessi (Aaron) Price, Kati (Nick) Bumgardner and Logan (Annie Shiley) Anderson; great-grandchildren, Bella Necessary; Naomi, Isaiah and Titus Hermann; Tate and Dane Harden; Landon Price; Emme Bumgardner; and three more on the way; several stepgrandchildren; several stepgreat-grandchildren; sister, Clara Belle (Junior) Lamb, Farmer City; and sister-in-law, Helen Larson, Sun City, Ariz.
She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; two brothers, Charles William Larson and Albert Paul Larson; and sister-in-law, Laura Larson.
Mary Helen graduated from Moore Township High School in 1948, and attended Illinois State Normal University. She was baptized at Bethel Church, near Galesville, at the age of 12. She was a kindergarten aide and librarian aide for 35 years at the Farmer City elementary schools.
For 34 years, Mary Helen, along with Gene, furnished and chauffeured their classic convertible for Judy Frazier in the Farmer City Christmas Parade. In 1981, Mary Helen was chosen Mother of the Year in Farmer City. In 2005, Mary Helen and Gene were awarded Outstanding Volunteer of the Year from East Central Illinois Council on Aging. Over the years, Mary Helen was a Brownie and Girl Scout leader; delivered Peace Meals; was a Red Cross Bloodmobile worker; avid seamstress and quilter; and helper to many elderly and shut-in people. Mary Helen, along with Gene, restored several landmark homes, player pianos and antique furniture.
Most of all, she was dedicated to her family, always providing a fun place with lots of really good food and extravagant love.
