Carolyn Marita Holmes

Carolyn Marita Holmes went to her heavenly home on Thursday, April 30, 2026. She was born to Harry and Glenna (Windhorst) Heald on June 6, 1929, in Wichita, Kansas. She was welcomed by older brother, Rex.

She graduated from Minneapolis High School in Minneapolis, Kansas. Carolyn later received her teaching degree from Friends University in Wichita.

She married Leo Holmes on Feb. 21, 1953 in Wichita at the First United Methodist Church. To this union, four children were born; Monte, Marshall, Marita Jo, and Mitchell.

Carolyn was a kindergarten teacher in Wichita for six years. When the family moved to Nebraska, she helped Leo in their business but later did some substitute teaching in the surrounding towns. When they moved back to Kansas, she did substitute teaching and took some Special Education classes. She later decided to become an insurance agent with Farm Bureau Insurance. She did this until retiring in 1994.

Family was important to Carolyn. After their parents’ passing, her brother Rex came to live with them for 17 years.

She is preceded in death by her husband, parents, and brother.

Those left to mourn her are children: Monte (Monica) Holmes, of Goshen, IN, Marshall (Renee) Holmes of Hesston, Marita Jo (Brent) Steckly of Beaver Crossing, NE, and Mitch (Michelle) Holmes of St John; 16 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren, plus one expected in June.

Cremation is planned with memorial services to be held at 10 a.m., Friday, May 8, 2026 at Miller-Ott Funeral Home, Hesston. Private burial will take place at Highland Cemetery, Minneapolis, Kansas. Memorial contributions may be made to Heartland Pregnancy Center or Good Shepherd Hospice in care of Miller-Ott Funeral Home, PO Box 32, Hesston, KS 67062.