JD Holt, Jr

JD Holt, Jr. was born 22 September, 1961 in Beaumont, Texas and died in his sleep on 28 April, 2026.

JD graduated Temple High School in 1980, where he played on the State Champion football team. He earned his BS in chemistry at Stephen F. Austin State University in 1996, and his MA in Human Dimensions of Organizations from the HDO graduate program at the University of Texas at Austin in 2017.

JD excelled in numerous professions over the course of his work life. He was a skilled carpenter and designer, environmental professional, project manager in myriad fields, and all-around Handy Man.

An indefatigable cycling, beer, and 42-domino enthusiast, JD was a jokester, a devoted girl-dad (to more than just his own daughters), and the very definition of a builder – of decks, of houses, of friendships, and of all types of connections.

The JD Holt Unofficial Fan Club is geographically vast, multitudinous in number, and diverse in membership. Whether you knew him for a day or for decades, you mattered to him and he let you know that.

He leaves behind three smart and capable daughters, Sydney, Mallory, and Faede, of whom he was more proud than all his numerous other projects and accomplishments combined; as well as Kelly, his wife of 38 years who fought with and loved him with equal ferocity and tenacious devotion. Preceded in death by his father, JD Holt, Sr., and his sister, Cindy Holt, he is also survived by his mother, Betty Bounds, and three sisters, Elaine Meyer, Lorraine McClure, and Joanie Chambellan, as well as many in-laws, nieces, nephews, and cousins, all of whom looked to him as a mentor and prime example of what a “good man” should be.

Taken from us far too soon, he still managed to pack so much living, giving, and laughter into his 64 years on this planet. Anyone who wishes to commemorate him may donate in his name to Left Hand Brewing’s MS 150 cycling team, with which he proudly rode. He would also encourage anyone who is able to become a blood donor, a cause to which he gave religiously.