Margaret Taylor Holdaway joined her recently departed sweetheart, Reed, on March 30th 2009. Margaret was born June 2, 1917 in Lakeview. Growing up at Cherry Hill Farm, she participated in all the outdoor work associated with a dairy farm. She and her sister Virginia maintained a loving and functional home after the early death of their mother. Her innate exuberance for life flourished as, with her cousins, she swam in the lake, played in the barn and climbed trees. In this setting she formed friendships which lasted a lifetime. The rigors of farm life during the Great Depression instilled in her qualities of thrift, industry, integrity, determination, tenacity, and compassion. At Lincoln High School she participated with the debate team, edited the school newspaper, and ran hurdles at track events. Always an excellent student, she was valedictorian of her graduating class.
At the age of 15 she fell in love with Reed Holdaway. Their courtship culminated in their marriage in the Salt Lake Temple August 8, 1938. They remained inseparable for over 70 years, until his death in February of this year.
She was an executive in spirit and a woman of vision. She created a close knit, loving extended family. All holidays were enthusiastically celebrated. Christmas was particularly magical with home sewn matching dresses for all the girls, a personal visit from Santa, and a menu of traditional and innovative dishes. She arranged for extended family vacations and regular boating excursions to Bear Lake and Lake Powell. She was always planning some way to get the family together: Birthdays, graduation parties, sock showers for departing missionaries, summer picnics at the mountain cabin or on the patio. No accomplishment was too small to celebrate with a family get together. She remembered every birthday, anniversary, or special event of her nearly one hundred descendants. She delighted in the accomplishments and the childhood antics of all her posterity. Her homemade caramel ice cream was legendary, her English toffee unsurpassed.
Reed and Margaret made their home in Springville where she developed wonderful friendships, including those in Modem Mother's club, Cultural Arts club, Camera club, PTA, and church organizations. A consummate hostess, she welcomed her friends and neighbors, Reed's professional associates, as well as a steady flow of her children's friends.
Margaret loved to learn and explore. A gifted conversationalist, she sparked the open exchange of ideas, often with her family around the dinner table. Even at the age of 91 she enjoyed discussing a recent editorial or news program she had seen. She loved books. She loved to read to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Margaret embodied empathy and compassion. "Charity never faileth" describes her perfectly. She always tried to lift, encourage, inspire, and bless. She knew who needed a hot loaf of bread or a pot of homemade soup. She was generous with her resources, her time, and her heart. An active member of the LDS church, she served in numerous callings with her characteristic dedication.
She is survived by her children, Karen Miller, Don (Barbara), Susan Robinson (Doug), Claudia Dastrup (Max), Craig (Jane), Nora Bishop (Clark); Sisters-in-law Gayle Taylor, Charmian Taylor, Sally Taylor, 28 grandchildren and 49 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband Reed Holdaway, her parents, Will and Nora Taylor, all of her siblings, Weldon Taylor, Virginia Worthington, Paul Taylor, Phillip Taylor, Richard Taylor, and Robert Taylor as well as her son Lee Kae Holdaway, and granddaughter Kristen Holdaway.
Funeral services will be held Friday, April 3, at 11:00 a.m. in the LDS Ward Chapel located at 355 E. Center in Springville. Friends and family may call Thursday, April 2nd from 6 7:30 P.M. and on Friday morning prior to the funeral from 10 to10:40 A.M. at the same location. Burial will be in the Provo City Cemetery. The family is grateful for the caring staff of Envision Hospice agency, especially Stephanie.
Visits: 3
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors