Gladys M Holt

Gladys M. Holt, 94, died peacefully on October 30, 2025, after a long decline with dementia. A long-time resident of Cameron County, Gladys, in recent years, stayed with family, first in Clarion, PA then Fleetwood, PA, and then in June 2024, Gladys moved into Brethren Village in Lititz, PA. She was born Gladys Mae Hill on July 4, 1931 in Derry, PA to Alice T. Hill and Edward Hill, into a large boisterous family, being one of eight children. Because of her birthday being on Independence Day, her dad, Edward, who worked as a coal miner in Indiana County, called Gladys 'his little firecracker' and the nickname was apt throughout her long life. Gladys graduated near the top of her class in 1949 from Homer City High School in Indiana County. In 1952, she moved to Emporium, PA for employment at Sylvania where she later met Edmund N. Holt, a life-long resident of Cameron County. The couple married in 1956 and made their home in West Creek. They enjoyed a full life together, building their own house, raising six kids and various pets, forming many friendships, and pursuing outdoor adventures, until Ed's death in 2011. An accomplished and frugal homemaker, Gladys could stretch a penny into a quarter and was known for her delicious home-baked bread and cinnamon rolls. She always had homemade raisin-filled cookies or blueberry buckle tucked away in the freezer, ready to pull out to serve her family, many friends or even a good number of strangers who found themselves at her hospitable home. Gladys enjoyed playing cards and board games with her kids, and later grandkids, and she was especially hard to beat at Scrabble. Gladys enjoyed the outdoors-- cultivating flower and vegetable gardens and feeding and rescuing wildlife. A member of the United Methodist Church in Emporium, Gladys took an active part in the Deborah Circle for many years and formed many friendships. In addition to her husband, Gladys was predeceased by her parents, five siblings, Alice Vanderhoof (George), Don Hill (Lavinia), James Hill, John Hill (Ellen) and Martha West (Gene), as well as an infant sibling and an infant granddaughter. Gladys is survived by her six children and their spouses: Catherine Holt (Curt Foltz), Edmund Holt, II (Deb), Toni Momose (Craig), Alison Holt-Kalish (Scott Kalish), Heather Larry (Dave) and Benjamin Holt (Renee), 17 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, one sibling, Paul Hill (Pam), a sister-in-law, Delores Hill, and many nieces and nephews. A Memorial Service will be held for family and friends at Moore Hill Church and Cemetery in Cameron County. Details will be shared in the Cameron County Echo at a future date. Memorial donations in Gladys's name can be made to the Centre Wildlife Care, centrewildlifecare.org. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Gladys M Holt, please visit our floral store.