Tributes

Lorraine "Jackie" Holmes was called home by her Lord on July 11, 2013, under the compassionate care of Hospice in the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Mary and Henry Newsom surrounded by her loving family. She was born Ellena Lorraine Smith July 21, 1920 on a farm in Frio County near the small community of Derby, TX. She became "Jackie" early in her life. When she was about three years old she had appendicitis. Before she had recovered from the surgery, she came down with whooping cough. When her doctor came to visit this very sick little girl, he would tell her stories about jack rabbits. Everyone soon began to call her little Jackie and the nickname stuck. In July of 1938, Jackie married the love of her life, Sam D. Holmes. The couple began their married life in the Rio Grande Valley but soon returned to Pearsall, TX, where they remained for the rest of their 50 years together. They had two daughters, 18 months apart, Mary Lenora and Sammy Lynn, and raised their family in the Pearsall community. Jackie spent many of her early years as a bookkeeper at various places in the San Antonio area, and spent several years as a substitute teacher in the Pearsall schools. Eventually, Jackie's expertise with bookkeeping, learned during her attendance at San Antonio College, and Sam's love of mechanics, which began with working on aircraft during WWII, came together when they purchased a garage on Oak Street in Pearsall, TX. The couple maintained the business, Sam Holmes Garage, for many years. Upon their retirement, they put all of their energy into the love they shared for gardening, and also devoted themselves to enjoying time with their grandchildren. Throughout their lives they enjoyed the company of friends, often entertaining them with dominoes and games of 42. Jackie loved nature and was a devout gardener. She loved to collect rocks and to nurture plants and birds. For many years she maintained multiple hummingbird feeders and enjoyed watching them feed from her vantage point at the kitchen table until she moved into assisted living in 2006. Jackie's family wishes to express their thanks to the many friends and staff that cared for her during her time at Argent Court Assisted Living in Jourdanton, TX, the generous caregivers of Vitas Hospice, as well as the many friends within the St. Peter Lutheran Church in Pearsall, TX. She was preceded in death by her mother, Lenora Field Smith, and father, Needham Smith, her husband of 50 years, Sam D. Holmes, brother Needham Smith and sister, Frances Corder. Jackie is survived by her brother, Stanton Smith, her daughter Mary Newsom, son-in-law, Henry Newsom, daughter Sammy Smith, son-in-law, Donnie Smith, grandchildren John Newsom, Lenora Newsom, her partner, Alison Tudor, Allison Bussone, grandson-in law, Marc Bussone, and great-grandchildren, Elaina and Isla Bussone, as well as many nieces and nephews. Graveside services will be held on Saturday, July 13, 12:30 pm, at Mission South Burial Park in San Antonio, TX, where she will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband, Sam D. Holmes. Her family asks that you consider offering a donation in her memory to Vitas Hospice http://www.vitas.com/community/Donate.aspx, or to St. Peter Lutheran Church in Pearsall, TX.

Tributes

Ellena Lorraine Holmes

July 21, 1920 - July 11, 2013