Marie Kirksey Holmes

MARIE KIRKSEY HOLMES “Aunt Ree” Marie K. Holmes, of Austin, peacefully passed away on July 12, 2003, with family members at her side. She was 84 years old, and a current resident of Carestone Assisted Living Center. Marie was born in Brownwood, Texas on January 3, 1919. As a young girl, she moved with her parents and two sisters to Elgin, Texas, where the family operated a truck farm, raising various crops and bringing them to market in Austin. Following graduation from Elgin High School, Marie moved to Corpus Christi, where she met Graydon Holmes, a young radio engineer. Marie and Graydon were married in 1941, and the young couple moved to the Panama Canal Zone, where Graydon worked as a civil service engineer during World War II. In the post-war period, Marie and Graydon moved to Austin and, in 1953, built a home in Oakey Heights in South Austin, where they lived together until Graydon’s passing in 1994. Marie remained at the home until the fall of 2000, at which time she moved to an assisted living center. Marie was employed by the Texas Railroad Commission for 19 years, and was a member of Kinney Avenue Baptist Church for over 50 years. She was also a member of The Order of The Eastern Star, joining the Orchid Chapter No. 1 in Balboa, Canal Zone, in 1948. In their retirement, Marie and Graydon enjoyed being outdoors at their acreage near Bastrop, managing their small cattle “ranch”, and Marie relished her days filled with visiting with neighbors and family, tending to her beautiful flower gardens, reading good books, listening to music, and always clipping interesting newspaper and magazine articles to send to her nieces and grand nephews and nieces. Marie, or “Aunt Ree” as her four nieces lovingly called her, was a most generous and loving aunt and sister….a unique woman with a fashionable, whimsical flair, who had a truly creative sewing skill as evidenced by her many self-designed bean-bag animal characters, potholders and quilts she leaves behind. Having no children of her own, Marie especially showed her love for her four nieces throughout her life---always helping them in so many ways. A trip with “Aunt Ree”, or a note from her, or a visit to her home, was always a fun time, filled with stories, guidance and special gifts. The generosity of her spirit was unparalleled. Marie was preceded in death by her husband of over 50 years, Graydon W. Holmes, her mother and father, Ruth Vernon Kirksey and John Bryan Kirksey, and her sister, Sadie Rae Cortez, of San Antonio. Marie is survived by her sister, Evelyn K. Riely, and her husband, Arthur J. Riely, of Austin; four nieces, Jimmie Sue Francis and her husband, Richard Francis, of Austin, Alice Ruth Parrish, and her husband, Jerry Parrish, of Tyler, Rayene Patterson, of Lockhart, and Deborah Edwards, of Killeen; and thirteen grand nieces and nephews. The family wishes to express its loving gratitude to the staff of the Carestone Assisted Living Center for their attentive care that was of such kind assistance to Marie and her family in recent months, to Dr. Steven Dobberfuhl and his staff at Adult Care of Austin, for their loving, professional expertise and guidance, and to Robinson Creek Hospice for their particularly gracious help in Marie’s final days. A graveside service will be held on Monday, July 21, 2003, at 10:30 A.M., at Austin Memorial Park, 2800 Hancock Drive, with Reverend Gordon Bergstrom officiating. A reception will follow at Kinney Avenue Baptist Church, 1801 Kinney Avenue. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Kinney Avenue Baptist Church. You may view memorials at www.wcfish.com. Arrangements by Wilke-Clay-Fish Funeral Home, 2620 S. Congress, Austin 442-1446.