Charles (Don) Donald Holladay

Charles Donald Holladay (Don) died peacefully September 18, 2021 surrounded by his children.  Don was born in Salt Lake City, Utah July 22, 1925 to John Lyman Holladay and Esther Pauline Olsen Holladay.  Don grew up in Utah and Idaho, where his family had farms and he learned the value of hard work and integrity.  He loved learning and was an avid reader.  He had a passion for life, played multiple sports, flew airplanes and enjoyed other outdoor activities including river running, farming and raising cattle. He had a love for horses, training and showing them, and teaching his children to ride. 

Don was a World War II veteran in the 17th Army Infantry.  He joined the military at the age of 18.  He was wounded during the Battle of the Bulge while serving in Belgium in December 1944.  Don was honorably discharged in June of 1945 due to the injuries he sustained during his service.  He received numerous military decorations for his service and bravery, among them the Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. 

From 1947 to 1949, he served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Texas - Louisiana mission.  Upon completion of his mission, he returned home riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle. Soon thereafter, he married the love of his life, Lura Doone Parker in the Salt Lake Temple on October 11, 1949.  Don and Doone built a wonderful life and family together.  He served his family throughout his life with wisdom and love.  His family was always his top priority and he loved spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Don earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Utah and a Master of Social Work Degree from the University of Denver.  He dedicated his life to the service of others, helping many as a Psychiatric Social Worker and a Marriage and Family Therapist.  He worked in various leadership roles for the Salt Lake County Division of Mental Health and retired as a Manager for Valley Mental Health in 1988.  He received the University of Utah Clinical Faculty of the Year Award (1981-1982) as an adjunct professor. He was the first recipient of the Norman S. Anderson, M.D. Award for Distinguished Service to Mental Health in Utah from the University of Utah in 1986. In addition to his formal education he was self-taught in many trades such as plumbing, welding, carpentry and any subject he found interesting. 

Don was an active and dedicated member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many callings through-out his life and was a temple worker in the Salt Lake temple.  After his retirement, he continued to actively volunteer his time and energy for many community organizations including the Sons of the Utah Pioneers (SUP) and AARP.  He was the recipient of the AARP Community Spirit Award for Utah in 2000.   

Don’s wife Doone preceded him in death. He is survived by his five children, Lecia Green (Mike), Lynn Holladay (Mary Ann), Keith Holladay (Alison), Susan Lewis (Don) and Paula Worthen (Robert), 15 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren. 

Funeral services will be held Monday, September 27, 2021 at 11:00am at the Holladay 2nd Ward, 2065 East 4675 South. Friends and family are invited to visit Sunday evening 6:00-8:00pm at Holbrook Mortuary, 3251 South 2300 East, and at the church Monday morning 9:30-10:30am prior to the funeral. Interment will be at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park.

For those unable to attend in person the funeral will be live-streamed at www.HolbrookMortuary.com. To watch the funeral scroll to the bottom of Don’s obituary page on the Holbrook Mortuary website on the day of the funeral. The funeral will remain available to watch for 90 days.   

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Disabled American Veterans at www.DAV.org.

Funeral Audio Recording