Barbara Holyoak

Barbara Morrison Holyoak, 95, passed peacefully from this life into the waiting arms of her departed loved ones, surrounded by family who will miss her dearly, on March 4, 2024.

She was born July 12, 1928, to Charles and Nina Morrison, in Heyburn, Idaho, where her father worked at the sugar factory.   She was the middle child of five children:  Sylvia, Nona, Barbara, Marvin, and Arvetta.

She grew up during the Great Depression when money was hard to come by and life in the country was difficult at times. The family made do with what they had.  For many years their small home had no indoor plumbing.  Barbara told of cold winters when the family pulled all their beds into the main room near the pot-bellied stove so they wouldn’t freeze.  Her childhood was fun but challenging, especially when her mother, Nina, passed away when Barbara was only 11.

In 1944, Barbara met a good-looking sailor, Merrill Holyoak, at a dance at the Y-DELL in Burley, Idaho.  They courted and Barbara waited while Merrill completed his time in the Navy and served an LDS mission.  They were finally married in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on June 15, 1949.   To this union were born eight children.

When her husband, Merrill, suffered a debilitating stroke in 1971 at the age of 44, Barbara added to the responsibility of mothering many children the challenge of caring for her incapacitated sweetheart and providing for the family.  Her faith, love, strength, and constant smile were a wonderful example to her family and wide circle of acquaintances.

She was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and happily filled numerous callings.  She served 20 years as a “Scouter” and was honored with the Bing-Pow District award of merit.

Barbara is survived by her children:  Val (Peggy), Jody, Lenn (Jolene), Roger (Connie), Max (Lori), Curtis (girlfriend Aven Brower), and Tim (Kelcy).  She was preceded in death by her husband, Merrill, an infant son, Gary, a daughter-in-law, Lennox Baird (Lenn’s first wife), grandson Adam, great-grandson Henry, her parents and all her siblings.  She is survived by her seven children and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

There will be a viewing Saturday, March 16, 2024, at 10 a.m. at The Mill House Event Center located at 2792 Pocatello Ave, American Falls, Idaho 83211 with the funeral at 11:00 a.m. at the same location, under of the direction of the Davis-Rose Mortuary. Interment will follow at the Falls View Cemetery.  The family wishes to thank the staff at Grace Assisted Living in Chubbuck and OneSource Hospice for their devoted care. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.DavisRoseMortuary.com.