Cordelia "Dea" Mary Holt

After graduating from St. George’s School in Spokane, Dea earned her B.A. in modern European history and political science at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. She earned her master’s degree in business and political science from Seattle University which included a semester at the East-West Center at the University of Hawaii.

Dea’s career started in insurance where she became the first woman in the entire company to earn the title of adjuster. Ahead of her time, she had some great stories to tell about breaking that glass ceiling!

Her career choice changed when she met and joined Jackie Burke as a business partner in Seattle in Masterpress, Inc. Masterpress was not an ink-on-paper printing company. It specialized in nameplates and labels for manufacturing companies. Dea and Jackie created a labeling system for General Electric that identified all the various sections of the Alaska Oil Pipeline. They created an inventory labeling system for the U.S. Forest Service to track the survival rate of trees planted as part of reforestation. That system had to resist all climate changes as well as hungry deer that came to feast on the saplings. Dea’s creativity was not limited to printing systems. She wrote and directed themed holiday skits to be performed in costume by friends who wouldn’t miss one of Dea and Jackie’s parties.

After fourteen successful years at Masterpress in a male-dominated industry, they founded Barcodes West, Inc. They rejected focus on retail systems and, instead, looked to the creative side of this technology such as developing a complete barcode inventory system for the U.S. Navy tracking everything from weapons to food on submarines and inventing a payroll data collection system for Nordstrom, Inc.

Nimbly continuing to be an innovator in a new arena, Dea founded 01 Publishing, Inc. 01 worked in the world of computer publishing and design, creating websites, technical publications and translating software from English to foreign languages for such companies as Microsoft, Toshiba and K/P Corporation. Even after retirement, Dea shared her considerable knowledge consulting for several non-profit businesses in the Northwest.

Along with the challenges of competing as a women-owned business, Dea took up the game of golf as a necessary part of doing business with “the good old boys.” She quickly excelled in golf, played in women’s leagues for fun and found an enjoyable, lifelong social activity.

It was her love of travel and animals that took Dea to Africa many times and around the world to all the continents. She became the U.S. representative for the Zulu Nyala Safari Group, a game preserve in South Africa, enjoying introducing African safaris as auction packages to U.S. non-profit organizations and organizing numerous safaris for her adventurous friends.

To everyone who knew her, Dea was an extraordinary person. Secure in herself, Dea was wise, witty, sophisticated yet practical. She had an impeccable character that was calming to all around her and impeccable taste in all things. She was generous in word and deed and always a kind and loyal friend. Her light never wavered but began to dim a little these past few months. Her light on earth is extinguished but will always remain aglow in our hearts.

Dea’s ashes will be placed in the Library Room at Evergreen Washelli Columbarium in Seattle.

In memory of Dea, a donation in her name can be made to the World Wildlife Fund through the link below.