Emma LaRue “Emmy Lou” Holtz

Emma LaRue “Emmy Lou” Holtz, 91, of Harrisville passed away on Wednesday at UPMC Northwest in Seneca.

Emmy Lou was born in the village of Kiester on Aug. 31, 1926, to Henry Bernard and Vernetta Mae (Sutton) Kiester.

She was an educated woman and had studied journalism at Wheaton College in Chicago before leaving to start her family.

She married her beloved husband, John E. Holtz June 26, 1948. He died on June 16, 2015.

Emmy Lou always loved to work and had worked for 25 years as the business manager for Slippery Rock School District. After leaving the school district, Emmy Lou worked for Grove City Medical Center in the business office.

She was the writer of the Harrisville Column of the Allied newspaper for over 10 years and enjoyed every minute of it. She was active in the Harrisville Women's Club, the Harrisville Community Day Planning Committee and was very active in her church.

Emmy Lou was a longtime member of Rocky Springs Presbyterian Church. She was very active serving as a Sunday school teacher, helping run vacation Bible school, creating the church bulletins, writing the history book for the church, and being an active member of Women in the Church (WIC).

She loved to crochet and making mats, doilies and various other items from recycled plastic bags.

Emmy Lou was an avid reader and loved researching history and authored many books about the Kiester family and the Civil War.

Emmy is survived by her two sons, Martin Holtz and his wife, Jennifer, of St. Louis, Mo., and George Holtz and his wife, Sue, of Slippery Rock; 15 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Louise Baseler of Grove City; numerous nieces and nephews; and her caretaker, Gayle Crawford.

In addition to her husband and parents, Emmy Lou was preceded in death by her sisters, Margaret “Peg,” Betty, Mary Ellen, Anna, and Amelda “Spud”; and her brothers, James “Jim” and William “Bill”.

HOLTZ — Family and friends of Emma LaRue “Emmy Lou” Holtz, who died Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017, are welcome from 4 until 7 p.m. Sunday at Jamison Funeral Home, 117 N. Main St., Harrisville. Additional visitation will be from 9 until 9:45 a.m. on Monday.A funeral service will follow at 10 a.m. Monday at the funeral home with the Rev. Scott Fleming, pastor of Rocky Springs Presbyterian Church, officiating.Interment will be in Prairie CemeteryMemorials may be made in Emmy Lou's name to Rocky Springs Presbyterian Church, 123 Rocky Springs Road, Harrisville, PA 16038.Online condolences and flowers may be sent to the family by visiting www.JamisonFuneralHome.com.