Mary Louise Huffman Holmes,91, of Bokoshe, OK, passed way Saturday, January 28, 2017 in Bokoshe. Mary was born Sept 18, 1925, in Bartlesville, OK to Elizabeth and Jack Ward. She married Cecil Huffman in 1942 and raised her large family in Wynona, Ok. She made ends meet by working tirelessly gardening, canning, cleaning game and fish, raising chickens, and sewing her familys clothing. After her husbands death in 1966, she completed her G.E.D. and bravely moved her family away from her home of 25 years to Tahlequah, Ok to begin college. She graduated in 1971 with a BS Degree in English and accepted an English teaching position at Bokoshe, OK high school. She married Donald Holmes and lived a country life she cherished. She loved the hills, tramping through the woods, gardening and most of all fishing. It was common place to see cartons of night crawlers alongside the milk in her refrigerator. The story has been told about inviting her to go fishing when she was frying chicken. She promptly turned off the stove and grabbed her fishing gear with the remark that women only get vacations 30 minutes at a time and she was taking hers right now. She shared her family farm life with her grandchildren who have fond memories of gathering eggs, picking vegetables out of the garden, eating the fish they caught, berry picking, and being allowed the freedom to have adventures. She was a non pretentious woman who had the gift of loving people for who they were. She could size a person up and love them anyway. This unconditional love was extended to those inside and outside her family. She encouraged many a person along the way to believe they were worth the value she saw in them. She was not impressed by status symbols but did not criticize folks for their life choices. She was a generous woman who had a strong faith in God and always said that no matter what she gave away, it returned to her two fold. .
Mary is preceded in death by husbands, Cecil Huffman and Donald Holmes, brother Buddy Ward, grandchildren, Dennis Hayes, Shelly Huffman, and Todd Roberts.
Mary is survived by six children, Cecilee Hayes (Richard), Pat Hood, James Huffman, John Huffman (Vicki), Susie Gullo, Joe Huffman (Norma),two stepchildren, Kenneth Holmes, Dorothy Roberts ,22 grandchildren, 42 great grandchildren, 1 great great grandchild, sisters, Ruth Sims and Pat Oglesby, and brother Danny Ward (Merrily).
Service will be held Thursday, February 2, at 2:00 pm at First Baptist Church Bokoshe, OK. Pastor Wes Bates will officiate the services. Viewing will be Wednesday, February 1, from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Family will greet friends from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Grace Manor Funeral in charge of arrangements. You may leave an on-line greeting to the family at www.gracemanorfh.com
Being a practical person, Marys sentiment on flowers is that she had her flowers during her life and has no need of any upon her passing. She has requested instead that donations be made to the Bokoshe First Baptist Church
SERVICES

Visitation

Wednesday, February 01, 2017
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Grace Manor Funeral Home
28918 205th AVE
POTEAU, Oklahoma 74953

Wednesday, February 01, 2017
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Grace Manor Funeral Home
28918 205th AVE
POTEAU, Oklahoma 74953

Thursday, February 02, 2017
2:00 PM

Bokoshe First Baptist Church
30070 Chickasaw St,
Bokoshe, OK 74930