Patricia Joan Holder

Patricia J. Holder, 79, of Grants Pass, passed into eternity on May 21, 2007 at her home.

Memorial services will be at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 3, 2007 at Third Watch Ministries, 3540 Demaray Drive, Grants Pass, with Pastor Nick McCarroll officiating. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.

She was born on March 17, 1928 in Portland, Oregon to Gladys Ruth Nicholsen and Jack Holgate Storey of San Diego, California. She was the beloved wife of Theodore S. Holder for almost sixty years. They were married on August 17, 1947 in Yuma, Arizona. She and her husband moved to Grants Pass in 1953. In 1958 she began a real estate career which developed into “Holder Realty”, where she and her husband Ted were co brokers. Before, during and after this time, Pat and Ted were busy building or remodeling over fourteen homes. In 1984 they retired. After her retirement, Pat decided to start a new business called Peppermint Patty’s, which was a charming little restaurant and gift shop on 7th Street.

Patricia accepted Christ as her savior in 1975 and enjoyed worshipping at many Christian churches around town. In the 1990’s Pat spear headed the first city wide inter denominational worship service and Fourth of July picnic at Riverside Park. She took flyers to many churches in town and invited them to come. About thirty people came and everyone had a good time. A year or two after that, the Church of the Valley began. Patricia was a true visionary with a pioneer spirit. Pat volunteered as a 4H leader for a few years and as a pink lady. She also was a charter member of the Realtors Association in Grants Pass. Patricia was passionate about what she believed and marched in the Vietnam Peace March from Ashland to Grants Pass.

Pat loved the beauty of nature and the country life. She raised darling lambs and gosling on the small farm she and Ted owned. She also had many pets, including horses, dogs, cats and birds and they all loved and trusted her. Pat had a great sense of humor and it reflected in the names of her pets. “Tripper” the black lab pup that was always under your feet. “Raunchy” was the scruffy shepherd mix that wondered in with an attitude. “Frank” and “Jesse” were the two mischievous baby raccoon her friend Melvin brought to her to care for when the mother was killed by a fallen tree and “Persy the Personable” pigeon, who flew in one day to their carport and adopted them. Persy would follow Pat, walking behind her on the path by their home in Wilderville. Persy would sometimes hitch a ride on her daughter Carla’s pony tail as she galloped across the field on her horse. Pat changed his name to Pricilla when she started laying eggs.
Gardening was another passion of Pat’s, flowers and vegetables galore, always outgrowing her son in laws garden, a running competition every year. She also enjoyed poetry and loved to read it to the family. One well worn book was called Best Loved Poems of the American People. She had a beautiful singing voice and loved to lead her family in singing old western ballads as we rode in long car rides, which was another wonderful tradition. She was also a gifted writer which was a big help to her kids during their school years. Please don’t tell the teachers! Pat was interested in promoting healthy lifestyles for families and helped to start a branch of Parents for Better Nutrition in Grants Pass. She wanted to help people in many ways, so she started a shop called Voice of the Turtle, where mom’s that need to earn some income could sell their hand crafted items. She sold it for $1.00 to one of the hard working mom’s.

In addition to her husband, Theodore S. “Ted” Holder; survivors include her two children, Robert Holder and Carla Holder McCarroll; her sister, Barbara Howell; six grandchildren, Lance, Judy, Brandy, Shawna, Matt and Josh; four great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother Jack Storey Jr.

Patricia was also a loyal friend and will be greatly miss