The Oregon Association of Nurseries is saddened to report the death of Shawn Holt, who worked as a nursery sales representative for several Oregon-based wholesale nurseries and owned a nursery himself. He passed away from a rare autoimmune lung disease on November 17, 2021, at the age of 61.
Shawn was born and raised in Redlands, California. He graduated from high school there, and then from Crafton Hills College in Yucaipa, California.
In the early 1980s, Shawn moved his young family to McMinnville, Oregon and worked at Kraemer’s Garden Inc. (formerly Kraemer’s Garden & Pet). In 1987 he went to work at Monrovia Nursery Company and received training in sales. He continued his career as sales manager at Oregon Garden Products and customer service manager at Means Nursery Inc. He became an independent sales representative in 1998 and worked for several Oregon nurseries. He built and ran a 5-acre nursery in Canby with his late wife, Debbie. He spent the last eight years selling stock primarily for Pacific Nursery and Kraemer’s Nursery.
Shawn loved the water and was an avid sailor and boat owner. He enjoyed gardening and growing plants, particularly fuchsias. His extensive knowledge of plants was sought after by customers, friends and family.
Shawn was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Geraldine Holt, and by his wife and the mother of his children, Debra Ann Holt, who passed away in 2007. He is survived by his wife, Kathleen Matyas, at home in Newport; children Piper Bowman (and husband Jeff) of Chester, N.Y., Ian Holt of Issaquah, Washington, and Chelsea Bullock (and husband Trey) of Camas, Washington; siblings Rebecca Holt Roche (and husband Wilbank) of Lakeland, Tennessee, Pamela Jenkins (and husband Mark) of Hubbard, Oregon, Michele Krantz (predeceased by husband Richard) of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, and Martha James (and husband Bill) of Plano, Texas; and seven grandchildren. A private memorial service was held on the Oregon Coast.