Cynthia “Cindy” Ann Poole

Cindy was born to Raymond Richard “Rip” Holder and Laurel Fern Holder in Idaho Falls, ID and was raised with her three older brothers in Rigby. Cindy attended school in Rigby, Idaho, where she was active in drill team, sports and with her horses. She graduated with RHS class of 1983.

After High school, Cindy worked in the banking industry and for the U.S. Postal Service in Idaho Falls as a letter carrier before moving to California and pursuing a career as an Air traffic Controller. After completing the very difficult training program in Oklahoma City at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in 1991, she moved to Palmdale, California and began her career at Los Angeles Air Traffic Control center where she worked until systemic Lupus forced her to retire in 2006.

During this time, Cindy’s son Dylan was diagnosed with Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy, an incurable and debilitating disease. This led Cindy to her next great passion, patient advocacy. She worked tirelessly to raise awareness about this disease and was a charter member of the MDAASG, a support group that has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to fund research and provide education to doctors, patients and caregivers.

Despite the setbacks, Cindy was able to fulfill the lifelong goal of helping others with their finances when she started another career as a financial advisor at Dickinson Graham Capital Management in Lancaster, CA. Where she worked until her death.

Cindy was diagnosed with stage 4 Neuroendocrine cancer in 2018. She once again charged headlong into the fight against a terrible disease, inspiring others with motivational and uplifting messages on her social media platform @zebrahiking, encouraging patients to live their best lives and take an active role in their health care.

Cindy had a strong love of the outdoors as her father was an avid hunter and fisherman and she often joined. She fell in love with hiking and became very passionate about backcountry backpacking. In 2019 she joined a group and took a 100 mile hike around Mt. Blanc in Switzerland, making many lifelong friendships along the way. Many of her adventures are documented on her Zebra Hiking page.

Cindy had many dear friends and many big plans. Things were cut short for her before she could conquer them all. She passed away at her home in Oklahoma City, OK surrounded by her loving family.

Cindy is survived by her mother, Laurel Holder Barsalou, her husband Bill Poole and her three sons Dylan, Aidan and Joshua. She is also survived by two of her brothers Richard Holder and Roy Holder (Judy) as well as many nieces, nephews and extended family members who loved her dearly.

Services will be held at Eckersell Funeral home in Rigby on June 3, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. with a visitation at 10:00 a.m.. She will be intered in Annis, ID at the Little Butte Cemetery. There will also be a celebration of life in Palmdale, CA on June 24, 2023. It will be at the Antelope Valley Country Club at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the NET Research Foundation at www.netrf.org/give.