Jean Suman Holt

Holt, Jean Suman 87 June 01, 1928 Oct. 11, 2015 Jean Suman Holt died peacefully surrounded by family Oct. 11, 2015 in Dallas, Texas. Jean was born June 1, 1928, in Jacksonville, Fla., to William "Vic" and Eleanor "Queenie" Hull. She graduated from Duke University in 1950, where she was senior yearbook editor and a member of ADPi Sorority. After college, Jean was employed as a grammar school teacher in Morristown, N.J. Jean married Robert "Bob" P. Suman in 1954 in Madison, N.J. Bob and Jean raised their growing family in Houston, Los Angeles, Columbus, Seattle and Portland. Following Bob's passing in 1989, Jean married Duncan Holt in Lake Oswego in 1995. The couple shared a loving home in Dallas from 1996 to 2015. Jean was an active supporter of the arts throughout her life. She was actively involved with the Portland Art Museum for nearly 20 years, first as a docent, and then as a member of the Activities Council and Board of Trustees; she also served as a founding board member and president of the Asian Art Council. Jean's creative flair also extended to the culinary arts, a pursuit which led to her earning Second Grand Prize in the James Beard Recipe Contest in 1976. Jean attended the Christ Church Episcopal Parish in Lake Oswego and the Spring Valley United Methodist Church in Dallas. She was a docent for the Seattle Art Museum, Columbus Museum of Art and the Dallas Museum of Art, where she also served on the DMA League Floral Design Committee. She also enjoyed memberships with the Portland Civic Theatre, Portland Garden Club and the Reed College Women's Committee. Jean was preceded in death by her first husband, Robert Suman (1989). She is survived by her second husband, Duncan Holt; brother, Pete (Leslie) Hull; children, Walter (Margaret) Suman, Eleanor Suman and Carolyn (Mark) Decker; and grandchildren, Elizabeth and Maxwell Suman, and Robert and Catherine Decker. A service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015, at Christ Church Episcopal Parish followed by a reception at Oswego Lake Country Club.