Rose Ann Holt

Rose Ann Holt of Kendrick died Friday, June 13, 2014 at her home. She was 88. Born January 3, 1926 at Southwick, Idaho to Ray H. and Annie L. George Cuddy, Rose Ann was the sixth of seven children. The Cuddy clan, famous for assigning descriptive nicknames, called Rose Ann "Doke," "Roger," "RA," "Sis," "Ma Holt," "Granny" and "Old Grannie" depending on who was talking. She attended schools at Gold Hill and Kendrick and married James W. Holt January 10, 1944 at Clarkston, WA. She and James raised 6 children on the farm on Cedar Ridge, which she lovingly referred to as "Holt's Pore Farm," and she warmly welcomed 13 grandchildren, 24 great children, and 2 great-great grandchildren. Proud of her Irish heritage, she reveled in the forty shades of green when visiting Ireland, and she epitomized the Gaelic expression "C'ead Mile Failte" - a hundred thousand welcomes. The Poor Farm door was always open, a place set at the table, a toasty fire going, and a bed freshly made for all who entered. And you could have the shirt off her back, if you needed it. A woman with a generous spirit, quick wit, and caring nature, she served her family and community her entire life as a leader and volunteer. She felt compelled to give back and do for others. The Kendrick Senior Citizens, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, Hill & Valley Garden Club, the Friendly Neighbor Club, and the Cedar Ridge 4-H Club were only some of the organizations that benefited from her time and enthusiasm. Over the years, she tasted many snicker doodles and peanut butter cookies of varying quality as a 4-H Judge. She served as a flower show judge for various county and state fairs around the region. Each year she would comment on how beautiful and creative the flower arrangements were. As a consummate gardener, berry picker, flower grower and weed killer, she loved to learn and share her knowledge of nature, and her kitchen was often full of fresh huckleberries, blackcaps, strawberries, cucumbers, or tomatoes. She did beautiful fresh flower arrangements and bouquets for family weddings and family funerals and most of the other milestone in the lives of her family and friends. She was an avid reader of the Bible, history, horticulture, and fiction, and she gave a lot of her time as a care giver and hospice volunteer. Her conversation was peppered with her own particular expressive language like "McCreary's Astonisher" (Kendrick Gazette), "magic dish box" (dishwasher in her new house), and "snattlerakes." Rose Ann loved to travel, to see new places and make new friends. She always said she had "one foot in the air" and could leave "at the drop of a hat." Friday the 13th, she left her beloved Cedar Ridge on her final journey to join her family in heaven. Rose Ann was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, sister Ruth Armitage, brothers Elmer, John, and James Cuddy, great-granddaughter Kaitlynne Ball, and David Harris. She is survived by her children: Carolyn (Roger) Nelson of Moses Lake, WA, Eileen Ball (David) of Onaway, Michael of Kendrick, Stephen (Dawn) of Bovill, Andrew (Maria Mills) of Post Falls, Amy Lynne Stillwaugh (Del) of Uniontown, WA; grandchildren (13), great grandchildren (24), great-great-grandchildren (2), sister Wilma Watson (of Driggs), brother William Cuddy (of Thompson Falls), and a multitude of nieces and nephews. Viewing will be at Shorts Chapel, 1225 E 6th, Moscow, ID Thursday & Friday from 2-6 p.m. Graveside service will be held at Wild Rose Cemetery on Saturday, June 21 at 1:30 p.m. followed by a Celebration of Life at Kendrick High School at 2:00 p.m. Family and friends are asked to gather afterward at Kendrick City Park for visiting and light refreshments. There will be Wacky Cake! In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Gold Hill Community Church (P.O. Box 36, Kendrick, ID 83537), Kendrick Senior Citizens, or a charity of your choice.

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