Harold H. Holt

Harold H. Holt of Dyersburg passed away at his home on Dec. 15 with family at his side. Mr. Holt was born and reared in the Richwoods community of Western Dyer County never living more than ten miles from his birthplace. His mother Stella B Yarbro Holt died at childbirth and he was reared by his paternal grandparents, Lora Mae and Richard Henry Holt. A graduate of Dyersburg High School, Mr. Holt was also a graduate of the School of Banking at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. Additionally, he attended classes at Dyersburg State Community College. A dedicated public servant, and active all his adult life in Democratic politics, over the course of nearly 40 years he held a number of elective offices. After serving as Deputy Dyer County Trustee under Trustee Lucille White from 1948-54, he was elected as Trustee in 1954 and remained in that office until 1969 when he resigned to take a position as vice president at 1st Tennessee Bank from which he retired 1991. While at 1st Tennessee, Mr. Holt was elected to the Dyer County legislative body holding that position from 1970-78 serving as Budget Committee Chairman. In 1986 the voters of Dyer and Crockett Counties elected Mr. Holt as their representative in the Tennessee General Assembly. Before retiring in 1992, he was a member of the Transportation, Commerce and State and Local Government Committees. On State and Local Government, his colleagues elected him to be the committee secretary. As well, he chaired the State Government subcommittee. He was also on the Board of Directors for the Obion-Forked Deer River Basins Authority and was appointed by House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh as legislative liaison to that organization during his time in the General Assembly. Active in civic life, Mr. Holt was a member of First United Methodist Church. He was a member and past President of the Dyersburg Rotary Club; the treasurer of the Dyersburg Masonic Lodge for 15 years; Vice President of the Dyersburg-Dyer County Chamber of Commerce's Industrial Development Board; a member of the Board of Directors for Dyersburg Union Mission; past president of the Easter Seal Society; a Board member for the Dyer County Fair in addition to spending a number of years on the Executive Committee of the Dyer County Democratic party. Funeral services for Mr. Holt will be at 2:00 p.m. Friday, December 19, 2014 at the First United Methodist Church with interment to follow in Fairview Cemetery. Curry Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Pallbearers will be Joey Holt, Kenny Holt, Stephen Holt, Brandon Morton, Mike Tucker, Henry Tucker, Dent Yarbro and Mike Grogan. Honorary pallbearers will be Frank Buck, Floyd Crain, Cotton Ivy, Roy Herron and members of the Sellers Sunday School class. The Holt family will receive visitors Thursday, December 18th from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. at the funeral home and also beginning at 12:30 p.m. Friday, December 19th in the Chapel at the church. Mr. Holt is survived by his wife of 65 years, Bonnie; his son, Steve (Linda) of Covington and his son former Dyer County Sheriff and current US Marshal for Western Tennessee Jeff Holt (Deb) of Dyersburg; a brother, Ralph (Patty) of Mayfield, KY; three grandchildren, six great-grandchildren; five nieces, a nephew and a host of cousins. He also leaves behind a dedicated, loved and appreciated group of caregivers Ramona Mann, Paula Arterbridge, Susan Bates and Tonya Smith. Along with his parents and grandparents, he was preceded in death by his brother Richard B. Holt. The family requests memorials be directed to the First United Methodist Church or the American Cancer Society. Online condolences are available on our website- www.curryfuneral.com