June 10, 2019

Linn County News

Published June 12, 2019

Ona Katherine “Katy” Holmes was born on April 5, 1934, to Marion and Anna Callahan in Deepwater, Mo. She and her twin sister, Ola May, were eight and nine of 10 children.

Katy married Robert “Bob” Holmes on March 21, 1952. They lived in various places in Kansas before finally settling in Tulsa, Okla., in 1960 with their four children, Steve Allen, Janet Elaine, Cheryl Denise and Robert Lee, Jr.

They joined and were active members of Southwest Baptist Church where they served and attended for 59 years. Katy worked with preschool children who brought her much joy and sang in the choir, as well as small ensembles, for many years.

Katy and Bob raised German shepherds, specializing in white. Katy served as the president of the White German Shepherd National Club for 20 years. Many of their dogs were purchased and trained as K-9 police dogs.

She passed away on Thursday, May 30, 2019, in Sapulpa, Okla.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Robert; her eldest son, Steve; and six siblings.

She is survived by Steve’s sons, Ryan Holmes, Bobby Holmes and Gary Holmes and their families; daughter Janet Edmonson and husband Ken and their children, Kory Tillery, Katy Edmonson and Clay Edmonson, and their families; daughter Denise and her children, Aaron Morrison, and Saneta Thurmon, and their familes; son Robert and wife Cindy and their children, Andrea Maarkes, Audria Roethgen and Jeff Holmes, and their families; as well as three siblings, Wally Callahan, Scottsdale, Ariz., Mary Lou Cox, Independence, Mo., and her twin Ola May Earnest, Pleasanton, Kan.