Frances H. Holmes

Frances Hazen Macaulay Holmes, part-time resident of Carpinteria since 1998, died Monday, November 2, 2015 at Alexander Gardens Assisted Living in Santa Barbara. Born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on February 22, 1926, she was the daughter of Douglas L. Macaulay and Ada Althea Hazen, granddaughter of Thomas Bassett Macaulay and Sir John Douglas Hazen. She graduated from Havergal College in Toronto and attended Macdonald College in Montreal before working as an executive assistant and fashion model. Fran emigrated with her late husband, Robert Weatherhead Holmes and their two young daughters to the United States in 1956. They moved several times during Bob's career with Avon Products, living first in Illinois where they had 2 more daughters, then Ohio, New Jersey, and after Bob's retirement, Newport, Rhode Island. After Bob's death in 1997, Fran spent time in Carpinteria for part of each year. While in Carpinteria, Fran enjoyed volunteering for Seal Watch, the Carpinteria Valley Museum of History, and HELP. At Fran's residence in Newport, she volunteered for the Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge and previously for the Norman Bird Sanctuary. She was a supporter of Land Trust both in Santa Barbara County and Aquidneck Island in Rhode Island. Fran is survived by two daughters: Deborah Jennings of Newport and Leslie Deardorff of Santa Barbara; four grandchildren: Joanna Jennings, Arjuna Jennings, Briggs Deardorff and Emma Deardorff; and two sons-in-law, William Earhart and Scott Deardorff. She was predeceased by her husband Robert, daughters Victoria Earhart and Roberta Holmes, and son-in-law Bruce Jennings. Memorial services will be held in Santa Barbara at the end of December at 2864 East Valley Road, and in Newport in May 2016 at 534 Wolcott Ave. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Carpinteria Valley Historical Society or HELP of Carpinteria.