Murrell Hancock Holt

Murrell Hancock Holt, 83, of Lake Charles died Saturday, August 14, 2010 following a lengthy illness.

Mr. Holt was a native of Washington, DC and has lived nearly sixty years in Lake Charles. He was a graduate of Roosevelt High School and Benjamin Franklin University in Washington, DC. He proudly served his country in the Army Air Corp, in the European Theatre, during World War II. Mr. Holt worked as an Accountant along side his wife, Betty, as they owned and operated Line- A- Day Tax Control Service in Lake Charles until retiring.

Mr. Holt was a founding member of the South Lake Charles Optimist Club. He served fifteen years as Secretary Treasurer, three terms as President and three terms as the Lt. Governor for the Louisiana Zone. He was also a proud member of the American Legion Post #1, VFW Post #2130 and Masonic Justice Lodge #449. He was a member of University United Methodist Church for over fifty years.

Mr. Holt took great interest in the Boy Scout's of America as he was Scout Master in the early 1950's of Boy's Village and 1960's of University Methodist Troop 26. His most treasured times were spent fishing, hunting and camping with his family. He will be most remembered as a family man and a man of patience and generosity.

He leaves to honor his memory, two sons, Reed Holt and wife Ann of Beaumont, TX and Dayne Holt and wife Janet of Camarillo, CA; two daughters, Michelle Firmin and husband Albert of Lake Charles and Diana Monceaux and husband Murphy of Seymour, TN; eight grandchildren, Tanner Holt, Lauren Holt, Jennifer Holt, Brian Holt, Ricky Smith, David Holt, Daryl Monceaux and Dalton Monceaux; three great- grandchildren, Job Duraso, Gabrielle Furby and Ashton Cormier and one brother, Deane Holt and wife Grace of Potomac, MD.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife of fifty one years, Betty Barrington Holt, his parents, Frank and Arbutus Holt; brother, Wayne Holt; granddaughter, Jamie Holt and great- grandsons, Jason Monceaux and Dakota Booth.

The family wishes to express sincere gratitude to Dr. Mike Broussard, nurses and staff of Memorial Hospital 5th Tower and Heart of Hospice for their excellence in care and compassion throughout Mr. Holt's illness.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 AM Friday, August 20, 2010 in the Johnson Funeral Home Chapel. Reverend Charlie Langford will officiate. Interment will follow in Prien Memorial Park. Visitation Thursday will be from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM with an American Legion service beginning at 6:00 PM. Visitation will continue Friday from 8:00 AM until the time of service in the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Mr. Holt's honor may be made to the Disabled American Veteran's, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH, 45250-0301. Attn: Gift Processing.