Kent Lavoe “Poke” Holt, age 89, resident of Uniontown, KS, died Wednesday, October 27, 2021, in Fort Scott, KS. He was born February 6, 1932, in Fort Scott, the son of Howard Curtis and Helen Grace Kent Holt. He attended Uniontown schools then went to FSCC and played football. Kent enlisted in the U. S. Navy in 1951 and served until 1955. He married Marilyn Hartman on May 6, 1951, in Redfield Kansas. Together they had 4 children, Kenneth Holt (Nancy), Debra Holt Likely (Tom), Randall Holt (Debra) and Susan Holt Eldridge (Ron); 9 grandchildren; and 24 great grandchildren. He has one Sister Nancy Elofson (Stan). Kent was preceded in death by his parents and son Kenneth Holt.
Kent’s many accomplishments after his service in the Navy include working as Cashier at Union State Bank starting in 1955, while attending and graduating from Pittsburg State University. He also held the titles of President and Chairman of the Board until retirement in 1994. He was an ongoing Board Member. He was a member of the Kansas Bankers Association’s 50 Year Club. Kent was a Uniontown advocate, initiating many things in his early years for the community including the Volunteer Fire Department, Uniontown Rural Rental Housing, donating the land and helping build the Uniontown Rodeo Arena, the Boy Scouts for several years, U-235 school board member, and was a member of First Missionary Baptist Church serving as a Trustee. He was also a rancher/farmer. His hobbies included piloting, golf, fishing, woodworking, traveling in the RV and being a Winter Texan for 24 years.
Rev. Marty DeWitt will conduct services at 10:00 AM Monday, November 1st, at the First Missionary Baptist Church in Uniontown. Cremation will follow with private family burial in Uniontown Cemetery later. The family will receive friends following the service at the church. Memorials are suggested to the First Missionary Baptist Church and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
