Gladys May Holmes

Gladys May Holmes, 85, of St. Joseph, MI passed away suddenly Wednesday, September 11, 2013 at her home. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 10:00 A.M. Monday, September 16, 2013 at St. Joseph First United Methodist Church, 3003 Leco Ct., St. Joseph with Pastor Harris Hoekwater officiating. Burial will follow at North Shore Memory Gardens in Coloma. Friends may visit from 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. Sunday, September 15, 2013 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel & Cremation Service, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to St. Joseph First United Methodist Church, Humane Society of Southwest Michigan or Maud Preston Palenske Memorial Library. Those wishing to share a memory of Gladys online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Gladys was born June 12, 1928 in St. Joseph, MI to Howard L. and Frances M. (Welsh) Trask. She graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1946. Gladys was employed at Michigan Bell as a switchboard operator, eventually becoming a manager. She was one of the Telephone Pioneers of America. She loved spending time with her family and her close group of friends. Gladys enjoyed crossword puzzles, going to the casino, concerts at the Bandshell and sports. She loved animals, especially her cats. She also loved being a part of the community, the city of St. Joseph and volunteering at the library. Gladys is survived by her sons, Robert J. (Remy) Holmes, M.D. of Essexville, MI, Kendal H. (Monica) Holmes of Streamwood, IL; and Michael D. Holmes of St. Joseph; grandchildren, Justin (Jennifer) Holmes of Shelby Township, MI, Robyn Holmes of Seattle, WA and James Walter Holmes of Southgate, MI; nieces, Laura Holtquist and Lisa Melin both of Tulsa, OK; and cousin, Jerry Berner of Hernando Beach, Florida. She was preceded in death by her parents, first husband, Walter J. Holmes, second husband, Harold Tomlinson, and brother, David H. Trask.