Mary Holmes

Holmes, Mary Winton , 85, passed away September 26, 2018. A gathering of family and friends will take place from 4:00-5:00 pm, Monday, October 1, at Larksfield Place, Wichita, KS. A memorial service will be held at 5:00 pm, Sunday, October 7, at First United Methodist Church, Stillwater, OK.

She was born to David Winton and Eugenia Ebert Whitaker on March 26, 1933 in Lakewood, NJ.

Mary’s father was a career Navy photographer and served in both World Wars. The family moved to Norman, Oklahoma where Mary attended University High School and the University of Oklahoma. She majored in music and ultimately earned a master’s degree in Music Education.

Her parents owned apartments a short distance from their home in Norman. Don Holmes, a young veterinary med student became a tenant. Mary was selling Christmas trees as a fund raiser that year. Don agreed to buy one of Mary's trees if she would agree to decorate it. You may fill in the blanks here.

On August 28, 1956 they were married in a simple ceremony in Mary's parent's living room. Shortly after the wedding, Don was drafted into the Army. The young couple lived in San Antonio and then San Francisco, where their son, Philip, was born.

After being discharged from the Army, the family moved back to Oklahoma. First to Stillwater and then to Oklahoma City. Their daughter, Carolyn, was born in 1964.

In 1968, the family built a home in Edmond, Oklahoma. Don and Mary later moved to Washington, DC for 8 years and eventually settled back in Stillwater to retire.

Over the years, Mary devoted her time to many civic and charitable organizations. She taught private lessons for both piano and violin in the home during the children's school years. Mary has always been active in the Methodist Church.

Her hobbies have included painting, ballroom dancing and, of course, classical music. She also enjoyed cold Beer, Guacamole, and a good detective show.

Daughter-in-law Noelle Holmes encouraged Mary and Don to move to Larksfield Place in Wichita in 2013, where they have enjoyed the friendship of many people in the community over the last several years.

Although she encountered many physical issues in her later years, she never lost her spirit or sense of humor.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and older sister, Nancy Carter.

Mary is survived by her husband, Don Holmes; son and daughter-in-law, Philip and Noelle Holmes, all of Wichita; daughter and son-in-law, Carolyn and Christopher Layden of Chester, NJ; niece, Darla Carter of Conroe, TX and grandchildren, Dylan and Cameron Holmes and Hannah, Joshua and Zachary Layden.

Share condolences at www.CozineMemorial.com. Services by Broadway Mortuary.