Hollis H. Holmes, age 76 of Malvern, died Saturday, January 28, 2012 in St. Joseph ’s Hospital. He was born in Hampton , Arkansas on March 8, 1935 to the late Gordon Jesse Holmes and Kathryn Garrett Holmes. Reared and educated in Hampton and Camden , he later served in the United States Marine Corps and the United States Air Force. Hollis was a drywall finisher for over 40 years, and had been a resident of Malvern since 1970. He was a member of the Moose Lodge and attended church at New Beginnings Baptist. He enjoyed watching football games, and loved to fish and water ski before his health began to fail.
Hollis is survived by his wife, Lotherene Reynolds Holmes, to whom he was married on June 17, 1961; by a son, Joel Duane Holmes and his wife, Amy of Convent, Louisiana; a daughter, Cynthia De Ann Szarmach and her husband, Ed of Alexander; by seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren; by two sisters, Hazel Lucas (Ray) of Hampton and Audrey Patton (Albert) of California; and a brother, Gordon Holmes of Malvern.
He was also preceded in death by nine siblings, Arlice Holmes, Versie Lee Pierce, Vivian Gorman, Helen Counts, Omer Renfro, Leathie Griffin, Annie Hand, Clovis Holmes, and Molly Holmes.
His funeral will be at New Beginnings Baptist Church at two o’clock on Tuesday afternoon, January 31, 2012 with Brother Scott Efird officiating. Interment will follow in Harp Cemetery .
Pallbearers will be: Bill Duncan, Fred Byrd, Jr., Riley Goldsmith, Rick Goff, Craig O’Neal, and Phillip Otwell.
The family will receive friends at J. A. Funk Funeral Home from six until eight o’clock on Monday evening.
Memorials may be made to Arkansas Hospice of Hot Springs, or New Beginnings Baptist Church .
Online condolences may be sent via jafunkfuneralhome.com.
