Geneva Christina Holden

Geneva Christina Holden Geneva Christina Holden, age 96, passed away on Thursday, September 10, 2015, at Morningside Center in Chillicothe. She was born July 13, 1919, in Livingston County and was the last surviving child of Mary Irene (Linville) and John Calvin Cooper. She graduated Chula High School in 1937 and Northeast Missouri State College. At the age of 18 she started her teaching career at Pleasant Grove School in Southern Grundy County. Geneva taught at Chula, Laredo and finished her teaching career with 17 years at Dewey Elementary for a total of 34 years. She married Harvey Milton Holden on April 15, 1945, after a few years in Iowa they moved back to Missouri where they were engaged in farming. They settled on a farm north of Chula where they resided until 1976 when they moved into Chillicothe. He preceded her in death on May 2, 1981. After her retirement in 1979 Geneva traveled with her sisters to the lower 48 United States and enjoyed making quilts for her children and grandchildren. Many hours were spent enjoying her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. With the death of her nine siblings and their spouses, Geneva loved to gather her nieces and nephews together with her family. She was a member the First Christian Church, Retired Teachers Association, RSVP, and worked 19 years as Hedrick Medical Center Auxiliary volunteer in the gift shop. Her survivors are two daughters, Kay Thomas, Trenton; Linda (Jim) Perry and son Wayne (Jan), Columbia, Missouri. Grandchildren: Brian (Angie) Perry; Emily (Nathan) Baker; Adam Perry; Emily (Kevin) Clark; and Brenda (Nick) Allnutt; and step granddaughter Anna (Thomas) Schiffers. Great-grandchildren: Landon and Ashton Baker; Kinsley and Ivy Allnutt; Hayden and Jack Clark; Dillion Perry; and Olivia and Thomas Schiffers; and several nieces and nephews. Beside her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by six sisters, Lena, Elma, Eva, Florence, Veola and Irene, and five brothers Clifton, Glen, Clarence and two infants. Son-in-law Lucian (Tom) Thomas. Funeral services will be held at the Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri, on Monday, September 14, 2015, at 10:30 a.m. A scheduled family visitation will be held at the Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri, on Sunday, September 13, 2015, at 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Friends may call at the Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri, on Sunday, September 13, 2015, from 12 noon until 8:00 p.m. Burial will be held at the May Cemetery in Chula, Missouri. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Christian Church and may be left at or mailed to Lindley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 47, Chillicothe, Missouri 64601. Online condolences may be made at www.lindleyfuneralhome.com . Arrangements are under the direction of Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri.