Donald Dean Holmes

Don Holmes was born on March 14, 1929 to Curtis and Christine Holmes and raised in Wheelwright, Kentucky a company owned coal mining town. Don Holmes is survived by his wife, Phyllis and three children, Tim (Julie), Phil (Jenny) and Nancy Riley-Jones (Rod). He was preceded in death by his parents and one sibling, Bill R Holmes. Due to black lung and mining accidents, Don vowed to never work in the coal mine where he witnessed terrible coal mining accidents whenever the mining whistle blew. Don discovered music while in Wheelwright grade school and got a saxophone from his dad. As his musical tastes developed, he fell in love with Big Band music. Don and his close friend Bill Hangar went to a private school in Berea for high school where they earned their tuition through work. Don made many lifelong friends in Berea and played saxophone in a swing band. Don and his friend Ray Bradbury would sneak out of their dorm room, to listen to bands like Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Jimmy Dorsey and Woody Herman. In 1947, the coal mine struggled, and Curtis moved his family west to Yakima where Don initially picked hops in the summer heat which he was not particularly fond of to say the least. Soon, they transitioned to Seattle where Don's first job was at Sears and Roebuck, then to Boeing as an expediter until a Boeing strike led him to become a waiter on an Army transport ship that delivered troops to Korea. He returned to Boeing after the strike where he met his future wife, Phyllis and got a first date with her by stopping her in the hallway to ask, "Would you'all wanna go dancin?'" After a fun courtship, they were married June 8th, 1951 at the Presidio Chapel in San Francisco where Don was stationed as a military police officer and served for two years. After Don’s discharge from the Army, he and Phyllis returned to Seattle where Don worked at The Bon Marche as a buyer where he traveled to New York for buyers meeting and was promoted to main floor store manager. With a growing family, Don decided to take a sales position with American Tourister Luggage where he essentially finished his career. Don's work territory included WA, OR, MT, and ID and he traveled to many company sales meeting in Puerto Rico, New York, Florida and Rhode Island. Don was a HUGE sports fan and held season tickets to both the Seahawks and Husky football. Don, Phyllis and their neighborhood friends tailgated before the term was popular. They also held season tickets to the 5th Avenue, and attended swing era jazz concerts when they could. Don loved a good road trip, and over several years took trips to California, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, and once while driving through Minnesota, he saw the next exit went to Sioux City, Iowa/Nebraska. He said, “I’ve never been to Iowa before. Let’s go there” as he exited the freeway and went ventured toward Iowa. He loved Hawaii, and took several trips over the years with Phyllis and his children as well as close friends. Many good summers were spent at the Arnold’s place at Birch Bay digging for Geoducks, wading for Dungeness crab, hiking and going up to Canada to see movies. As his children grew, and became parents, he and Phyllis became fanatics about attending their grandchildren Carly, Nick, Nate and Tia’s sporting events and cheering them on no matter the weather. They also spent a great amount of time taking care of their grandchildren and great grandchild, Ashley. Don was diagnosed with dementia three years ago, and despite his decline and confusion, never lost his ability to remember his family and friends and always had an overall good nature and smile. As he was moved into an adult family home November 2018, Phyllis visited him every single day. Don was able to celebrate his 90th birthday and passed away the day after his 68th wedding anniversary, a wedding balloon that Phyllis brought to him the day before hung by his side. Phyllis was both wife and angel, staying at his side until his last breath.