Lynda Karen Holt, 76 of Lubbock and formerly of Wolfforth, passed away Monday June 2, 2025, at Covenant Hospital. Visitation will be Sunday, June 8 from 2:30-4:00 at Lake Ridge Chapel and Memorial Designers. A Celebration of Life Service will be Monday, June 9, at 10 AM at First Baptist Church in Wolfforth with Mark McMillan and Jim Drake officiating. A private family burial is planned in East Texas.
Karen was born to the union of Weldon R Drake and Frances Lynda Floyd on January 18, 1949, in McKinney, Texas. She moved to the Lubbock area in 1959 and attended Frenship schools for 8 years, graduating as salutatorian in 1967. She would go on to attend and graduate from West Texas State University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Education in 1971.
She spent her entire teaching career, 42 years, in the Frenship ISD system, not only serving as a Reading/English teacher, but also as cheer and twirling sponsor for many years. Eventually she found her way to the Frenship Tiger Band as “Mama Holt,” the band mom, riding many bus trips with the group and bringing along her famous bucket of candy for her band babies.
A recognized educator in the Lubbock area, she received the Beaumont Outstanding Educator award in 2012. Students fondly remember her for the “Road Not Taken” assignment, writing to famous celebrities, and her encouragement to use your power of words to lift up others.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 44 years, Timothy A. Holt, her parents, Weldon and Frances Drake, her sister Susie Barnett and nephew, Joseph Stargel.
Left to cherish her memory are daughters; Amanda Knight of Lubbock and Mollie Kelly (Kevin) of Houston; granddaughters Lily Knight of Lubbock and Katherine Kelly of Houston and one grandson; John Alan Kelly of Houston. She is also survived by one sister, Nancy Stargel of Lubbock, and two brothers: Jon Drake (Deann) of Lubbock and Jim (Diane) of Cypress, 4 nieces and 3 nephews, and a host of friends and fellow teachers who carry on her legacy.
Family suggests memorials in honor of Karen be made to The Parkinson’s Foundation, Frenship Foundation, or Meals on Wheels of Lubbock.
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