Obituaries

On Saturday, December 17, 2022, Jean Alberta (Goodwin) Holmes, loving mother of five, passed away at age ninety-four.

A true pioneer woman, Mom was born on April 4,1928, on a farm near Brownvale, Alberta. At the age of five she and her two older brothers and younger sister along with their parents moved from their prairie homestead to establish a farm on the shores of beautiful Decker Lake. Mom’s growing up years were filled with community and hard work learning the many skills of living in a family making a life off the land. Mom loved her home, the landscape, the trees and the water. After leaving school, mom worked as a camp cook then had the opportunity to travel to Vancouver and attain a hairdressing licence. One of her fondest memories of being in Vancouver was being reunited with her brother Ross Goodwin as he stepped off the ship that was returning soldiers from fighting in WW 2 in Europe. Mom worked at hairdressing and barbering all through her life and into her late 70’s.

In 1948 Mom married our father, Merton H. Holmes. They established their home in the Decker Lake community where they raised five children. Mom was an active member of the United Church, Decker Lake Recreation Commission and PTA. She loved to play softball, go fishing and skiing, hike through the forest and pick huckleberries. Her children helped her learn to swim when they took swimming lessons. Mom was a creative knitter, making socks, mitts and sweaters for her family. In her later life she knit prayer shawls and toques and presented them to folks who needed comfort.

Mom moved from Decker Lake to Kamloops in the early 1970’s. Later, she established a barber shop in Sorrento and worked there until her retirement. Moving back to Kamloops brought her closer to her children and grandchildren. Her final home was at Clearwater where she was well cared for by her children and the staff at Forest View Place.

Mom was predeceased by her parents Isaac Avery Goodwin (1888-1962) and Lara S (Erlandsdottir) Goodwin (1897-1955), her husband Merton H. Holmes (1922-1975), son George M. Holmes (1952-1976), her brothers Ross Goodwin, Roddy Goodwin, Charlie Goodwin and sister Anna (Goodwin) Miller.

Mom is survived by her children Donna L. Vernon (Ross), Sandra L. Holmes, Murray K. Holmes, Catherine J. Lund (Ed). She leaves behind 6 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Her sister Myrl Brewer mourns her loss as well.

There will be an intimate family gathering in February 2023 and in August a graveside celebration of her life at the Topley Cemetery where she will rest in the family plot.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Camp Grafton campership program at the Kamloops United Church.

• Make Castanet Your Homepage
• News Tips
• Advertising
• Contact Us