Pearl Ann Kay Holdaway (78). Born February 14, 1940 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Died July 4, 2018. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. She loved her family intensely, sharing her enthusiasm for them with everyone she met.
She grew up in South Salt Lake and attended Granite High School class of 1958. Married Larry (Pete) Max Holdaway on January 28, 1958. Their family quickly grew to include four kids: Kory (Debbie) Holdaway, Lisa (Paul) Hardy, Tonya (Tom) Ahlquist and Angie (Mike) Denison. Larry and Pearl divorced for a time but reunited after nine years, and on March 8, 1980 were sealed together as a family in the Salt Lake City Temple. This core family then grew to include 13 grandkids and soon to be 15 great-grandkids.
Pearl Ann loved large and laughed hard. She was the life of any party, and despite her many health challenges always wanted to be a part of the fun. She made friends wherever she went and was always looking out for the underdog and downtrodden. She loved God, had great faith, and was blessed with a charitable heart. Her example of service and love will live on forever, and her exuberance and joy will long be remembered.
For years she worked as a grocery clerk in Rose Park and would regularly help those who were struggling with gifts of food and other supplies, even bringing them to her home for holiday celebrations. She had the ability to see a need and the courage to take action. Her cooking skills were legendary and she loved her flower garden. As a cancer survivor she volunteered at the Cancer Wellness House and with the Arthritis Foundation.
She never shied away from hard work or felt a job was beneath her. She worked as a clerk, seamstress, gift wrapper, cook, bartender, waitress, sampler, accountant, and more. As a single mother she often worked multiple jobs at a time. She retired from Continental Baking Company where she worked as a store manager at the Wonder Bread Thrift store.
Her parents were Jesse Murlin and Edna Ferre Kay. Her brother Sherman and sister Edna Maureen Oliver Baxter Keele preceded her in death. Her brothers Sammy and John, and sister Helen Higby are still living.
Her funeral is Saturday July 14th, 2018 at 12:30 at Taylorsville Central Stake Center (4950 South 1950 West.) A viewing will be held Friday July 13th at 6:00-8:00 pm at the same location, and at 11:30 am prior to the funeral.
