Cecil Merrik Holt

Cecil Merrik Holt was set free from his earthly bonds on November 14, 2023. Merrik was born on February 13, 1976, in Webster, Texas, to Cecil and Jackie Holt. Though born with a genetic malady, Merrik possessed an unconquerable spirit. People who knew him loved him immediately, drawn in by his sweet smile and mischievous nature.

Above all else, Merrik possessed two chief virtues: love and courage. He loved deeply, and it was a joy to see him push his wheelchair at a sprint toward people he loved, holding out his arms and gesturing for a hug. He was loyal and generous with what he had, and he will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and caretakers.

Merrik was blessed to be a part of many communities in his life. He was deeply loved, and he loved deeply, during his time at Royal Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Waco. Most recently, he lived at Hays Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in San Marcos, Texas. Merrik’s family is grateful for the excellent, compassionate care he received, and the friends that he made in these places, especially those who cared for him at Hays and who took time to visit him in the hospital in his last days. Merrik did not simply live at these facilities, he was, rather, a loving and beloved part of the communities where he lived.

Merrik is preceded in death by his father, Cecil Morris Holt, and his brother Jonathan Lee Holt. He is survived by his mother Jacklyn Ann Holt of San Marcos, Texas, his sister Cara Marice Hall and her husband Todd of San Marcos, Texas, and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins whom he loved and who loved him.

Merrik lived well the life that was given to him. He courageously faced the challenges of his condition and his declining health, fighting through several nearly fatal health incidents over the years. Upon his birth, his doctors informed Cecil and Jackie that Merrik would not see his twenties. After months of fighting recurrent health issues, Merrik was finally tired of his fighting and finished his race at age 47. He is at rest in the Lord, now, and we who loved him await the day our Lord calls him forth from the grave, transformed and freed from all brokenness. And we look forward, with joy, to hearing his voice as he speaks for the first time.