Sharon Kay ‘Shari’ Holmes, of Berrien Springs
March 6, 1939 — Feb. 11, 2016
Niles Daily Star, Published 8:58am Friday, February 12, 2016
Sharon Kay “Shari” Holmes, 76, of Berrien Springs, Michigan died at 8:48 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016, at Lakeland Hospital — Niles, Michigan, following an illness.
She was born on March 6, 1939, in Elkhart, Indiana to Gerald Oliver and Thelma Lurene (Knoblock) DeForest. She was graduated from Niles High School, and from the Twin City Beauty College. She has lived in the same home on Scherr Road for 50 years and operated Shari’s Hair Styling from that home.
- Sharon Kay “Shari” Holmes
Shari was formerly active in area bowling leagues at the former A.A. Timber-Lanes Bowling Alley as a bowler, team sponsor, and league secretary. She enjoyed hunting and fishing, usually at the trailer at Big Smith Lake. Her greatest interest was her family, caring for her children and grandchildren, and always caring first for her husband.
On Aug. 13, 1958, in Roseland, Indiana she married Alonzo James “Lon” Holmes with whom she celebrated the 54th anniversary of their wedding prior to his death on May 4, 2013. They were also preceded in death by a son, Sergeant Michael James Holmes, United States Army who was killed in action in Tay Ninh, South Viet Nam on June 15, 1967.
Surviving family includes their children, James (Angela) Holmes of Niles, Gary (Victoria) Holmes of Berrien Springs, Joyce Kerschner and Nancy (Patrick) Hemminger, both of South Bend; grandchildren, Gary Michael Holmes, Lisa Tyler Bailey, Chelssy Elizabeth Bennett, Zachary James Holmes, Katherine Joy Holmes, Michael Hemminger, Christine Hemminger, Kathy Nitz, Stephen Hemminger, Cyndee Crawford, Wendee Kerschner, Julie Layman, and Andrew Kerschner; 15 great-grandchildren, seven great-great-grandchildren, and Shari’s sister, Jacqueline “Jackie” (Robert) Hess and twin brothers, Richard L. “Dick” (Melva) DeForest and Thomas O. (Donna) DeForest, all of Niles; and many nieces and nephews.
The funeral service for Shari Holmes will be at 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 15, 2016, at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with Elder Maurice Burton, Co-pastor of Refreshing Fountains Outreach Ministry Church of God in Christ officiating. Committal will be private on Tuesday at the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.
The family will receive relatives and friends on Monday at the funeral home beginning at 5 p.m. Contributions in memory of Sharon may be made to the Patient Activity Fund at West Woods of Niles.
www.halbritterfunerals.com