Florence Genevieve Johnson Holladay

1921 - 2019

Florence Genevieve (nickname Gennie) Johnson Holladay was born 19 October 1921 in Logan, Utah, the daughter of Jacob Charles and Florence Kelsey Johnson. Gennie had a brother that passed at birth and three sisters who have also passed. She was educated in Logan High School and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Utah State Agricultural College in 1942 with a major in Journalism.

Gennie worked for the Ogden Standard Examiner newspaper, writing obituaries and other articles, then in 1943 during World War II, she joined the U.S. Coast Guard “Spars”, commissioned as an Ensign in Communications. She later was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant (Junior Grade). Lieutenant Gennie Kelsey was stationed in Fort Lauderdale and Miami, Florida.

At the end of the war, in 1946, Genevieve was discharged and was married in Logan, Utah to John C (Jack) Holladay of Columbia, Adair, Kentucky. Jack had been in the Navy

Jake and Gennie made their home in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, where Jack was employed by Chrysler Corporation. They had six children: Robert (Diane) Holladay, Joyce (Joseph) Glenn, John Holladay, Don Holladay, David (Rose) Holladay and Mark (Suzette) Holladay. Gennie and Jack had 27 grandchildren and 53.5 greatgrandchildren!

When Jack retired from Chrysler Corporation in 1975, they moved to Provo, Utah, following their children, most of whom attended BYU. After her husband passed away, Gennie moved to Lehi with her son Dave and daughter in law, Rose. She also lived for a short time in Saratoga Springs with her granddaughter, Kellie and lived her last years in the care of her granddaughter, Dana Fallentine, in San Diego, California.

During most of her married life, Gennie worked on genealogy and temple work. She liked to read and Jack and Gennie spent a lot of great weekends with their Good Sam’s RV Club. She enjoyed painting earlier in her life and graced the homes of many of her family members of pictures of outdoor scenes, a cat and full-size portraits of her kids and husband! She served 3 full time missions with her husband, Jack.

Gennie passed away on October 16, 2019 at Pamerado Hospital, in San Diego, California. She was preceded in death by her husband Jack, sons John and Don Holladay and grandsons Jacob C. Holladay and Jordan Holladay.

Internment will be at Provo City Cemetery.