Martha Holmes passed away Sunday evening, April 6, 2008 at St. John's Regional Health Care Center in Springfield, MO after a short illness. She was 85 years old. She was born Martha May Tripp on September 20, 1922 in Jefferson City, MO the daughter of Clyde Edgar and Matilda Fredericka (Knernschield) Tripp. On March 10, 1943 Martha married Earl Denton Holmes in Jefferson City. In 1946 they moved to Earl's hometown of Gainesville, MO where they spent the next 50 years in business, having owned and operated Holmes Grocery and Station, Gainesville Motor Parts, Sears Catalog Store, and Holmes Hallmark. Together they were dedicated to serving the public. For many years they were opened for business 14-16 hours a day, seven days a week, and dearly loved everyday.
Martha lived a very full life along with being a business woman. She was self-taught on a variety of things. With every project she undertook she spent hours of researching all information available to finish the job "just right". She was a loving wife and wonderful mother. She will be greatly missed by each member of our family.
Martha was a member of the Mammoth Assembly of God church and a devout Christian woman. She also belonged to the Gainesville OES. She is survived by two daughters Earlene May Ledbetter and Julia Kay Crawford and husband Leslie; four grandchildren Shane Ledbetter and wife Kris, Susan Ledbetter-Ewing and husband Richard, Aaron Crawford and wife Kimberly, and Adam Crawford; five great grandchildren Nicole Hubbard, Sally and Molly Ledbetter, Hadley and Maggie Ewing; and one sister Ann Gawer of Jefferson City, MO.
Mrs. Holmes was preceded in death by her parents, husband Earl in 2000, son-in-law Dwight Ledbetter in 1994, 3 sisters and 2 brothers. Funeral services were held Thursday, April 10, 2008 @ 2:00 PM at Clinkingbeard Funeral Home in Gainesville with Gale Wooten and Dale Roberts officiating. Burial was at Mammoth Cemetery.