St. George, Utah – Joann Holgate Walker, age 88, passed away on February 13, 2022, in St. George, Utah. She was born on November 25, 1933, in Roosevelt, Duchesne County, Utah, the first of eight children to Frank Leo Holgate and Leona (Nona) Bell Holgate. She was followed in passing by her loving husband of 69 years, Kenneth Wayne Walker, three days later.

Joann grew up in Arcadia, Utah, where she spent most of her time inventing games around the water well or playing 'cowboys and Indians' in the foothills. She loved animals, once raising an abandoned colt, and helped with the farm chores and cow herding. As a young girl she would ride the bus over 20 miles a day to go to school and said later in life that her upbringing helped her raise her own girls with "good old-fashioned country common sense."

After graduating from Union High School in 1952, she started working at JC Penney's and was 'Miss Penney's' in the local 4 ^th of July parade. That summer she met Ken Walker, and the two were married in Arcadia, Utah on Nov 7, 1952. They were blessed with three daughters, Karen in 1953, Vicki in 1956, and Janet in 1960.

The family lived in Roosevelt and Vernal, Utah, before settling in Salt Lake City in 1960. In 1974 Joann got a job working for the State of Utah as a Human Resource Analyst in the Department of Transportation, where she was well liked and enjoyed her work. She retired after 20 years in 1994, and Joann and Ken moved to St. George in 1997 where they spent the next 25 years.

Joann had a green thumb and loved spending time planting flowers and growing vegetables in her garden. She also was an avid rock collector and was known to fill her fishing pouch with rocks instead of fish. Joann was a talented seamstress, sewing everything from clothes to home décor and quilts. She loved family history and recorded many of the family stories for her children and grandchildren. Joann and Ken explored most of the western United States on their motorcycle, visiting national parks and enjoying the outdoors.

Left to honor Joann and remember her love are two daughters, Karen Walker Gilbreth and Janet Walker Miller. She was preceded in death by her parents; siblings: Gwen Holgate Funk and John Douglass Holgate; and daughter, Vicki Walker. She is survived by her siblings: Cleo Holgate Stevenson, Nonalee Holgate Goodrich, Laurence Frank Holgate, Brent Lloyd Holgate, and Susan Holgate Johnson. She is also survived by her nine grandchildren, and seventeen great grandchildren.

A private service will be held at the Metcalf Mortuary and interment will be in the St. George City Cemetery on February 25, 2022.