Mae Holt

Mae Smith Holt, 87, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, May 12, 2008, at Chateau Girardeau Health Center.

She was born June 19, 1920, in Carbondale, Ill., daughter of Charles C. and Martha A. Belcher Smith. She and Grant T. Holt were married March 6, 1946, at Sikeston, Mo. He died March 23, 1982.

Holt lived in Cape Girardeau more than 50 years. She was a member of Lynwood Baptist Church, where she was active with her Sunday school class. She was also a member of "The Chain Gang" that crocheted and knitted prayer shawls, afghans and caps for newborns.

She was a graduate of Wolf Lake, Ill., High School, and also educated at Missouri Baptist Hospital in St. Louis. She was a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Nurses Corps during World War II. Mrs. Holt served in the Pacific Theater during the war and was stationed on Guam. She worked triage for the casualties of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. She was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Service Medal. Upon her honorable discharge she returned to Southern Illinois to continue in the nursing field.

She was a registered nurse 23 years at Southeast Missouri Hospital, retiring in 1976. She then worked at Southeast Missouri State University as a nurse from 1976 to 1981. She was a volunteer for the American Red Cross and was a member of VFW Auxiliary. For the past several years Mrs. Holt enjoyed many, many hours of playing cards and Scrabble, and lunching and laughing with the cherished friends that she made at Chateau Girardeau.

Survivors include two sons, Tom Holt of O'Fallon, Mo., Charles Holt of Bernie, Mo.; a daughter, Vikki Courvoisier of Las Vegas; and 10 grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; a son, Don Holt; and three brothers.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home.

The service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Lynwood Baptist Church, with the Rev. Gary Belcher officiating. Burial will be in Lorimier Cemetery. Military rites will be conducted by Missouri Honor Guard.

Memorials may be made to Lynwood Baptist Church.