Milton Lynne Holt

1922 - 2016

Holt, Milton Lynne
age 93, has gone to rest with his heavenly father on July 22nd, 2016. His smile, his wit, his love of family, and the twinkle in his eye will be sorely missed. Lynne lived a full life as a journalist, photographer, husband, son, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. Lynne was born in Uniontown, KS in August 1922 to Sam and Rosa Holt. Lynne was an identical twin, James Samuel Holt, died of membranous croup in March of 1923. In 1943 Lynne, hearing of the capture of his cousin Jake, left his pre-med studies at KU, and joined the Army Air Corp. There he learned the art of photography which peaked a new interest and ultimately lead him to his career. Lynne married Selma Loy in 1946. They were parents of three children, Samuel Lynne Holt, James Max Holt, and Jana Sue Oldfather. Lynne was a veteran journalist and who practiced his craft for 42 years. It began at a small paper in Fort Scott, Kansas as a reporter/photographer, he was a co-owner of two hand set small town weeklies in western Missouri for a year. Then he joined his parents in operation of a family general hardware store before returning to the newspaper field. He then became a reporter/photographer with the Wichita Eagle moving up through the ranks to become political reporter for 10 years, then managing editor at that same paper. During this stint, he researched and wrote a 43-part series on the Kansas penal system. This helped pave the way to extensive legislative reform of the system. His endeavors also promoted major reform of the state's mental health system. It was during his work at the Eagle that Holt was on separate occasions invited to join teams of national journalists for tours of India, South Africa, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Mexico. In 1976 Holt left Wichita and moved to Phoenix, AZ and for two years wrote agribusiness at the Phoenix Gazette. He then moved into management, first as the assistant managing editor, then as the managing editor. Lynne retired from the Gazette in 1988. In 1982, During his stint in Phoenix, Lynne married Sheryl Clark, a longtime family friend of Fort Collins, CO. They resided in Phoenix, AZ, until 2005 when they moved back to the Fort Collins area. Lynne loved to travel, explore new places, and meet new people. He had a deep faith and love for the lord. He was happiest when he was serving others. He had a sharp wit, and a wicked sense of humor. He made everyone he met, feel loved and appreciated. He was one of a kind. Lynne is preceded in death by his parents, Samuel and Rosa Holt, and his brother James. Sheryl's daughter Cynthia and her grandson Corey. He is survived by his children from his first marriage, Samuel Holt, Max Holt, and Jana Sue Oldfather. Sheryl, his wife, her daughters Kim Clark, Carolyn Gillis, and Stephanie Bollinger. He also has 12 grandchildren, and 12 great grandchildren. We will be honoring this amazing man's life on October 8th at 11 a.m., 2016 at First United Methodist Church, 1005 Stover St. Fort Collins, CO. Donations can be made to Pathways Hospice, 305 Carpenter Rd, Fort Collins, CO 80525