Raymond E. Holmes

Raymond Earl Holmes was called home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on February 12th.  Born February 14, 1932, in Garrett, Indiana, to Glen Raymond and Esther Elvira Kennedy Holmes.  Raymond attended Nichols School in Delhi Township and graduated from Mason High School in 1949 where he was active in the school band and chorus.  Gifted in music, Raymond played piano, organ, and sang at church, Youth for Christ, and the Capitalaires Quartet.

Raymond married Shirley Alice Pfiester in Mason, Michigan, September of 1951. He served in Fort Knox, Kentucky during the Korean Conflict from 1952 to 1954. He later attended and graduated from William Jennings Bryan College in Dayton, Tennessee.  Following college Raymond and Shirley returned to Michigan and worked for the Michigan State Police.

Returning to Tennessee in 1973, Raymond taught at Spring City Elementary and Rhea County High schools and drove a school bus. Raymond served as deacon at the First Baptist Church in Spring City where he played piano, organ and sang with the Inspiring Sounds Quartet. Raymond enjoyed traveling and worked as a travel agent taking  trips to Hawaii, Alaska, the Holy Land, England, and Russia.

Retiring to Florida he was active at Starkey Road Baptist Church in Seminole, Florida and assisted in supplying Wordless Books used by missionaries around the world.  After being widowed, Raymond returned to Gatlinburg,Tennessee where he lived until returning to Michigan in August 2024 to be close to family.

Raymond never met a stranger and kept in regular communication with family and many friends he met along his journey. His wife of 51 years, Shirley, preceded him in death in 2003.  Raymond was also preceded in death by his parents, sisters Helen and Rebecca, and brother Leroy.  He is survived by his sister-in-law Lois Holmes, Mason, Michigan, and several nieces and nephews who remember his many stories.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 22, 2025, at the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel, with interment to follow in Maple Ridge Cemetery in Holt.  His family will receive friends at the funeral home beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to City Rescue Mission of Lansing, or Hospice of Lansing Stoneleigh Residence, in memory of Raymond Holmes.