Longtime Durango resident Lucille “Boots” Marie Holyoak died Tuesday, Dec 25th, 2018 at her home. She was 83.
Boots was born on September 2nd, 1935 in Yorktown, TX. Later in childhood her family moved to Bisbee, AZ, where she graduated high school.
She raised three children in Bisbee before meeting the love of her life, Lyle Holyoak, Boots and Lyle were married on Oct. 3, 1969. In 1973, the Holyoaks moved to Durango, CO where Boots worked at The Durango Herald and Mercy Medical Center among others.
Boots enjoyed competitive bowling through which she developed life-long friendships and took many cherished road trips around the state to bowling tournaments. Boots was also an avid fan of the Colorado Rockies since their inception. After admirably caring for Lyle while he battled ALS, she became actively involved with the Sacred Heart Parish where she created new and re-kindled old friendships with her church family.
Mrs. Holyoak was preceded in death by her husband of 43 years, Lyle Holyoak. She is survived by son William McDowell of Tucson, AZ, daughters Dianne (Dan) Johnson of Tucson, AZ and Janis Short of Durango; grandchildren Jacob (Cynthia) Engle, Stacy Engle and Craig Short; and great-granddaughter Leighton.
A service will be held at Sacred Heart Parish on Friday January 4th, 2019 at 11 AM and a celebration of life will be held at a later date.