Jessica Ann Holt was born May 20, 1997, in Clinton, Missouri, to Richard Allen Paluch and Kendra Leanne Holt. After Rick’s passing in 2011, Jessie was adopted by Thomas Holt and proudly carried the Holt name from then on.
Jessie began school in Adrian, Missouri, later transferring to Sherwood Middle School. High school wasn’t the right fit for her, so she earned her GED in 2014 and then attended Matuska Taxidermy School in Iowa. It was there that her incredible artistic ability truly flourished. Jessie’s creativity was limitless—there wasn’t anything she couldn’t design, build, or bring to life.
Growing up, Jessie shared a special bond with her siblings. She and her sister Krystal—despite their eight-year age difference—shared the same artistic streak and sense of humor. Jessie always looked up to her big brother Kody, whom she lovingly called KOBO. One of their favorite games was “HIKE,” which was really just football, but of course, Jessie made it her own. Kody remembers that Jessie always did things in her own way, and why we are here today is proof of that. The world was truly robbed of her talent and spirit—most never knew just how creative she was.
Her connection with Toalson and Larissa was also inseparable; the three of them were like triplets, always together and usually up to some kind of shenanigans. They spent hours riding four-wheelers, taking back roads with the music cranked up, singing loud, stopping at their favorite spot just to sit and talk.
Jessie was also a devoted big sister to Trystan and Trey, always involved in their growing up—helping with class parties, birthdays, and everyday life. Later, she loved being “Aunt Jessie” to each of her nieces and nephews.
Jessie was happiest outdoors. She loved hunting turkey and deer with Thomas, making memories he will forever hold close. Mushroom hunting was her true expertise—walking miles with Thomas or with her dad at Longview Lake in search of morels. She even earned the title of “best ditch asparagus picker.” Jessie never passed up a fishing trip—whether for bass, crappie, or trout at Roaring River. She proudly called herself an “expert snagger,” and she may not have been wrong, landing many big spoonbill over the years. Every time she came home, the first thing she wanted was to head to Grandma Kay’s lake to fish. Summers at the lake were filled with camping, tubing, and setting jug and limb lines for catfish. Being on the boat was truly her happy place.
Fall was her favorite season—bonfires, hayrides, haunted houses, carving pumpkins, and especially trips to the Halloween Haunt at Worlds of Fun with her dad. She also loved carving pumpkins with her son, JJ.
Jessie loved animals of every kind. Over the years she had a pet deer, a potbelly pig, and even a mischievous rooster—but most of all she adored her stubby cat, a gift from her dad.
Her Nana was often able to fix just about any crisis—except when Jessie’s beloved “Be-Bop,” which she carried everywhere, got mutilated. After that, we had to call it “Franken-Bop,” and Jessie would accept no substitutes.
In 2018, Jessie gave birth to her beautiful son, Jessie James “JJ” Wilson. Jessie loved JJ with her whole heart. They shared not only a name but a special mother-son bond. She always made their time together deeply meaningful and full of love.
Jessie later became engaged to Ben Whitmore, her soulmate and love of her life. Together they enjoyed working on cars, going to the shooting range, playing video games, and simply being together.
As her mother, I will miss her hugs, her laugh, her beauty, her sarcasm, her love, and her random bouquets of handpicked wildflowers with notes that always assured me how much she loved me. I will miss her sense of adventure and her ability to do anything she set her mind to. I love the way she did everything her own way—in “Jessie style.”
If you were a friend of Jessie’s, or part of her family, and she loved you—she loved you with her whole heart. On the other hand, you wouldn’t want to make her mad, because I’m pretty sure she could whip just about anybody!
Jessie’s favorite flowers were daffodils. She couldn't wait for springtime every year so she could pick as many as possible and even believed that her and her sister Larissa discovered a new species when they were younger . If you want to remember her please take some bulbs and plant them and think of her in the spring when the world is beautiful again.
Jessie was preceded in death by her father, Richard Paluch; paternal grandfather, Dale Paluch; maternal grandmother, Mary Lois Simpson Page; and Richard Page.
She is survived by her parents, Thomas and Kendra Holt; her beloved son, JJ; brothers, Trystan and Trey Holt; grandmother, Kay Holt, all of Urich, Missouri; sister, Krystal Cooper (Clinton); brother, Kody (Kortney) Cook of Spring Hill, Kansas; brother, Toalson Holt of Holden, Missouri; sister, Larissa (Mike) Fultz of Conover, North Carolina; maternal grandparents, Ken and Gisela Kalwei of Kansas City, Missouri; paternal grandmother Phyllis Paluch , Independence, Missouri, nieces and nephews, Eddie and Quinton Smith, Isla and Violet Cooper, Kohen Cook, and Carter Fultz; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.
Jessie fought hard for a long time, and now she is at peace. She will live forever in our hearts.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Vansant-Mills Funeral Home in Clinton, Missouri.
