Renee Margot Jurian Holthouse was born September 14, 1915 in Mountain View, California. She was the daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth Jurian and the twin sister of Jeanne Holtzclaw, and sister of Claire Anderson, Bill and Ivan Jurian who preceded her in death. She attended Belmont Notre Dame Grammar School, high school and college. She also studied secretarial skills and bookkeeping at Heald College.
Renee married her husband, Armand (Bud) Holthouse in 1939. They were married 68 years. Renee was the mother of seven children, Richard, Jeanne Mary, Dennis (Bev), Kenneth (Elizaveta), Bruce (Kathy), Brian (Cynthia) and Craig (Natalie) Holthouse, She was grandmother to Rick Holthouse, Robin Dierksen, Amanda, Katy and Justin Holthouse, Carol Beth Holthouse, Clint and Sarah Holthouse, Hank Holthouse and Kate Deon. Great-grandmother to Sierra Dierksen, Tatiana Deon and Johnny Armand Holthouse.
She is also survived by her longtime beloved caregiver, Edna Dublois.
Renee and Bud moved to their San Juan Bautista ranch in 1947. They were active members of the Mission San Juan Bautista Parish church. She was a member of the Native Daughters of the Golden West Chapter #179, San Juan Library Auxiliary, San Juan Bautista Historical Society, Children’s Home Society/Kinship Gabilan Chapter spanning 50 years as a charter member. She belonged to the Sacred Heart School Mothers Club, Palma Parents Club and San Benito County Cattlewomens/Cowbelles. She was also the Organizational leader for the San Juan 4H for well over 25 years seeing her boys and older grandchildren at the fairs and competitions. Renee was Cowbelle of the Year and served as a local and state officer. She was proud to be named San Benito County Citizen of the Year in 1984. Renee was the consummate ranchers wife working and riding right along with her husband as well as handling all the finances. Her life work was as a bookkeeper and she received great pleasure working for Taylor Enterprises on the Mission Restoration and keeping their finances in order. Because of these accounting talents, she was always chosen to serve as the treasurer/auditor of all these organizations. Late into the night you’d find her sitting at her desk late doing the ranch books or auditing someone else’s books.
Renee loved the fairs; rodeo’s and horse shows and riding her horse, Puddin. She enjoyed watching her family compete in rodeos and won many awards with her canning and flower arrangements at the county fair. The County Fair District presented Renee with a Western Fair’s Association Blue Ribbon Award for the many contributions she’d done to promote and assist the Fair district.
She was precede in death by her husband, Armand (Bud) Holthouse and her children Richard, Kevin and Jeanne Mary Holthouse.
Friends may visit at Grunnagle-Ament-Nelson Funeral Home on Wednesday, March 4th, from 10:00 A.M until 4:00 P.M. The Rosary services will be Wednesday evening at 6:00 P.M. at the Old Mission San Juan Bautista. Family and friends may also meet at the Mission on Thursday morning at 11:45 A.M. to attend the Mass of Christian Burial commencing at 12 Noon. Graveside services will follow at the San Juan District Cemetery.
Contributions are preferred to Old Mission San Juan Bautista, St. Francis Retreat and Renewal Center, Sacred Heart Parish School, Palma High School or the Native Daughters of the Golden West, C/O Grunnagle-Ament-Nelson Funeral Home.
Condolences may be sent to www.grunnagle .com
