William Holmes

Services for Dr. William Morris Holmes, 80 of Bullard, will be held on Friday, August 19, 2011 at 11:00 AM at Stewart Family Funeral Home Chapel with Pr. Paul LeBlanc and Chris Bailey, III officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Lawn Cemetery in Tyler under direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. Dr. Holmes passed away, August 15, 2011 in Tyler. He was born April 11, 1931 on a “dust bowl” farm in Lycan, Colorado to Paul and Lela Rae Hammock Holmes. He was raised in Amarillo where he attended Amarillo High School. William earned his BS Degree in Geology and Geography from West Texas State University. He later received his Masters Degree from the University of Tennessee and then his Ph.D. in Geography and Earth Science from the University of Texas in Austin. In addition, William performed post doctoral work in horticulture and soil science at Texas A&M University as well as remote sensing and satellite imaging at Georgetown University in Washington D.C. He served as a Professor of Earth Science at the University of North Texas for over 30 years. Of his many accomplishments through out his career and lifetime, William was extremely proud of being the Silver Beaver Recipient of the Longhorn Council of the Boy Scouts of America, in 1975. Another activity close to his heart was the Literacy Council of Tyler, where he volunteered for more than 15 years. He held more than 15,000 hours of volunteer service as an ESL teacher. William served in the U.S. Army from 1951 – 1953 as a CPL (T) Meteorologist, ERC, ARTY, Fourth Army Area during the Korean Conflict. William was an author and co-author of several books and had numerous maps published in many publications with one of those being the Historical Atlas of Texas. He had many hobbies including wood working and was a member of the East Texas Woodturners. Dr. Holmes was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his loving family including his wife Ellen Holmes of Bullard; son, Gary Holmes and wife Patty of Temple; daughters, Katherine Miller of Garland, Charlotte Fobert and husband Dan of Rowlett, and Kelley Bates and husband Jimmy of Wiggins, MS. He is also survived by six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Visitation is scheduled from 6:00 PM- 8:00 PM, Thursday, August 18, 2011 at Stewart Family Funeral Home, 7525 Old Jacksonville Hwy., in Tyler. Memorials in honor of Dr. William Holmes may be made to The Literacy Council of Tyler, P.O. Box 6662, Tyler, 75711. For more information or to express condolences, visit www.stewartfamilyfuneral.com.

William Holmes

April 11, 1931 - August 15, 2011