Armeda Mary Holmes

The remarkable life of Armeda Mary Evans Holmes came to a close on January 1, 2023, after nearly 88 years. Born February 6, 1935 in Van Buren, she was the daughter of George and Jessie (Stanfield) Evans, and sister to Elmo Evans and Angie (Evans) Benham. After being promoted from 2nd to 4th grade in 1942 and graduating high school in 1952 as valedictorian, Armeda headed to College of the Ozarks in Clarksville, arriving in time to meet Richard Holmes, then in his senior year. They married on Easter Sunday, April 5th, 1953, and soon started a family, raising three children who survive her; Susan (Greg Maynard) of Sewanee, TN, George (Lindi) of Lincoln, Arkansas and Rick (Joan) of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina.

Armeda was a dedicated wife, an entertaining mother of three, a wonderful grandmother of five and great-grandmother to six more. With her Bachelor and Master’s degrees in Music Education, she was an inspiring educator, church organist and choir director, and a devoted church member. She taught elementary music in the Van Buren school system for twenty-eight years. In 1992 she was one of just three Arkansas music teachers to be recognized by the Music Educators’ National Conference as a registered music educator. She was also a member of the American Guild of Organists.

Her gift for flower gardening and making almost anything grow almost anywhere was well known among friends and relatives. After retirement she and Richard traveled to many parts of the world and sailed on area lakes until his death in 2005.

A memorial service will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, January 14, 2023 at Trinity Episcopal Church in Van Buren with her ashes committed to the columbarium there. A reception will follow at the church. A memorial event will be held at 10:30 a.m. that same day at Morada Senior Living in Fort Smith. Cremation is under the direction of Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home of Van Buren, AR.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church, Van Buren, or to the Armeda and Richard Holmes Scholarship at the University of the Ozarks, Clarksville.