Doris Willis Holmes

Doris Willis Holmes, 85, passed away late Monday at her home in Lexington, S.C. Prior to moving to South Carolina almost three years ago, Doris lived all her life in Carlsbad, where she was born Sept. 5, 1925. Viewing will take place at Denton-Wood Funeral Home from 4-7 p.m. Friday, January 21, 2011. Funeral services are scheduled at 2 p.m. Saturday, January 22, 2011 at Denton-Wood Funeral Home Chapel, with Dr. Larry Krueger officiating. Burial will follow in Carlsbad Cemetery. Doris was the youngest of eight children who, along with their widowed mother Murtie Martelia McClure Willis, operated the Willis Dairy in Carlsbad's early years. Doris recalled herding cows as a very young girl and working with her older brothers and sisters to do hand milking twice daily, as well as deliver milk to local grocery stores and homes. The Willis family survived the Depression years by also taking in ironing and boarders at the Carlsbad area family farm. On Dec. 7, 1942, Doris married potash miner Jess Willard Holmes. They had two children-James Willard Holmes of Lexington, S.C. and Marilyn Ann Haddrill of Las Cruces, N.M. Doris also had a third child, Gary, who died as an infant. In the 1990s, Doris teamed up with her daughter, Marilyn, when they wrote and sold two suspense books-"Night of Shadows" (Avalon) and "Sting of the Scorpion" (Arroyo Press). Before moving to South Carolina, Doris was a lifetime member of the former Hillcrest United Methodist Church that family members helped establish. Her husband preceded her in death on Sept. 13, 1986. Besides her two children, Doris also is survived by her daughter-in-law, Sue Holmes, and son-in-law, Kevin Haddrill. She also is survived by three grandchildren and their spouses: Sherry Melancon and her husband Neil of Baton Rouge, La., Jake Holmes and his wife Jennifer of Charleston, S.C., and Jason Holmes and his wife Melinda of Lexington, S.C. Doris has four great-grandchildren including Jesse Holmes and Julia Holmes of Charleston, and Faith Holmes and Katie Holmes of Lexington, S.C. She also has three surviving brothers and sisters including Kenneth Willis of Carlsbad, Marjorie Loman of Albuquerque and James Willis of Farmington. Doris also is survived by numerous beloved nephews and nieces. Pallbearers for the funeral service are Jake Holmes, Jason Holmes, Kevin Haddrill, Neil Melancon, Jesse Holmes and Tommy Garner. Denton-Wood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be expressed at dentonwood.com.