Laura Lea Holt, 59,of Denton, Texas, died Saturday, January 29, 2022, in Denton, Texas.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 12th at First Baptist Church of Holliday, Texas, with Rev. Darryl Sewell officiating. The family will receive friends following the service. Interment will follow at Holliday Cemetery under the directions of Lunn's Colonial Funeral Home.

The daughter of Patricia (Jackson) and G. W. (Dub) Holt, Laura was born on January 16, 1963, in Wichita Falls. Laura Lea was a proud graduate of Holliday High School Class of 1981 in which she graduated as Class Salutatorian. In high school she made many life-long friends, discovered her love for academics, sports and music. After high school,
Laura Lea attended the University of Oklahoma and was a member of the marching band. She then transferred to Hardin-Simmons University where she majored in Education and graduated magna cum laude.

Laura Lea then stepped into the world of Education where she found her passion for teaching and coaching. In the world of education, Laura Lea has often been described as compassionate, kind and diligent in her work. Laura earned a Master's in Education from Texas Women's University. As an administrator she fought hard to advocate for her
students and teachers and left a lasting impact on everyone she worked with. In 2003 Laura decided to pursue a dream and stepped away from education to work towards a degree in law. She graduated from Dedman School of Law at SMU with her doctorate of jurisprudence and successfully passed her bar exams. She practiced law specializing in school law. In 2010 Laura returned to the world of public education where she devoted herself to special education students and their needs Laura retired from public education in January of 2020.

Outside of education, Laura Lea was an avid traveler and went on trips every chance she had. She loved collecting memorabilia and she loved her pets like they were her children. She loved volleyball and basketball and especially enjoyed cheering on the Lady Bears basketball team whenever she could, except when they played OU. She was a diehard
University of Oklahoma Sooner fan.

Laura was preceded in death by her parents G.W. and Pat Holt, as well as her paternal grandparents, Garland and Effie Holt and her maternal grandparents, Clyde and Faye Jackson.

She is survived by her brother, Dennis Holt and wife Jane of Denton, TX, her beloved niece and nephew, Nicole Black and her husband Jeremy of Cleburne, TX and Dawson Holt and his wife Taylor of Gainesville, TX and her great-niece Winnie Holt. She is also survived by her best friend, confidant and favorite travel partner Beth
Brockman of Plano, TX.

For those desiring, memorial contributions may be sent to the Christlieb Scholarship at Hardin-Simmons University in memory of Laura Holt, or donations made in her name to the Denton Animal Support Foundation.