September 5, 1931 – September 12, 2023
Alvie Lloyd Holyoak passed away peacefully on September 12, 2023, at the age of 92.
Lloyd was born on September 5, 1931, to Alvie Eugene Holyoak and Ada Elizabeth Johnson Holyoak, both lifelong residents of Moab Utah.
Lloyd was very proud of his pioneer heritage as a descendant of the Holyoak family who traveled through the Hole on the Rock to settle the San Juan Valley and later helped settle what would become Moab.
Being the eldest son of a cattle rancher, Lloyd was raised riding a horse, camping under the stars on cattle drives and living the life of a cowboy. He graduated from Grand County High School in 1949 after being on the basketball team and playing the trumpet in the marching band. After he graduated, Lloyd played the trumpet in a band called “The Kats and Jammer Kids,” who would hire out to play for local dances.
In 1950, Lloyd joined the Navy and served his country during the Korean War. He spent 5 years as a corpsman for the medical division. He was stationed as a surgical nurse in Alaska where he thoroughly enjoyed learning how to assist in surgeries and childbirth alike. He liked to share that he had delivered three babies all by himself. While in Alaska, Lloyd joined the National Ski Patrol and served as captain while skiing the slopes patrolling to help others and assist in rescues when needed.
He had a brief marriage to Faye Williams and together they had a son, Sterling Holyoak.
After he returned home from the Navy, Lloyd attended Utah State University, earning his BS degree in industrial arts education. It was during this time that he met the love of his life, Deanne Nelson, who was the secretary of the Industrial Arts Department. They married in the Logan Utah LDS Temple on December 20, 1958. Together, they built a home in Moab and over the years added five children to their family.
Lloyd worked as a shop teacher at Grand County High School and spent summers working for the National Park Service as a park ranger. As Lloyd had scoured the backcountry, he was asked to be a member of the team of topographers who mapped the waterways of Lake Powell. He also operated a riverboat tour called “Canyonlands by Night,” which his children fondly remember: riding on the engine cover where the warm motor kept the night chill away and watching filmed depictions of history shining along the canyon walls.
The family moved to the Denver, Colorado, area in 1972. Lloyd worked for the city of Northglenn for 20 years, retiring as supervisor over building and maintenance in 1992. After retiring, he spent one summer working as a ranger at the Mt. Timpanogos Cave in American Fork Canyon, UT. We all marveled that at 70 years of age, he could hike up the long steep trail to the cave multiple times a day to conduct tours of the cave for tourists.
After Lloyd and Deanne moved back to Moab, Lloyd built his third house and went to work for the park service once again. He spent summers patrolling the river and was on many search and rescue missions. With his tender heart, a few recovery missions left him with many sleepless nights afterward but he found great personal fulfillment in being able to help others who were suffering and in need of closure.
Lloyd loved to camp, fish and paddle around in a canoe. Lloyd built so many things over his lifetime, large and small. He was a builder of furniture, canoes and speed boats, houses, cabins, and even built a 1937 Jaguar SS100 Kit car that he was incredibly proud of. Lloyd taught all his children to swim, fish, ski, shoot guns, hunt, and fix and build things.
All of Lloyd’s neighbors knew that if they needed help, tools, or equipment, they could call upon Lloyd and he was happy to help in any way he could. He taught the principle of always returning anything you borrow in better condition than it was when you borrowed it.
Lloyd was a proud member of the local chapter of The American Legion and took immense pride in serving the community with his fellow veterans. He was a very patriotic American and respectfully always flew a U.S. flag.
Lloyd had a firm testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and was faithful in his service in the church throughout his life. He taught by example the principles of honesty and integrity and was someone you could always look up to.
During the past few years during Deanne’s declining health and dementia, he was always right by her side to hold her hand and reassure her she was not alone. He told her numerous times a day that he loved her with all his heart and that they were eternal companions and would always be together. He was so patient and sweet with her, he was a perfect example of Christlike love and compassion. Lloyd taught his children so many things in this life, that they have always been very proud to be blessed to call him Father.
Lloyd was preceded in death by his parents, Alvie and Ada Holyoak; his wife of 66 years, Deanne N. Holyoak; sister, Colleen Taylor; brother, John O. Holyoak; grandson, Devin Meldrum; and great-grandson, Damien Holyoak.
He is survived by his brother, Keith Holyoak (Michelle); his children, Alan Holyoak (Diana), Steven Holyoak (Cindy), Tonya Meldrum (Rodney), Roger Holyoak (Rachelle), Diana Rotolo (John), and Sterling Bock; plus many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 30, at 11:00 a.m. at the Spanish Valley Mortuary with a viewing one hour before the service. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery with military rites.
You may send condolences to the family at www.SpanishValleyMortuary.com.
