Marian Evelyn Holmes (nee Freeborn) was born on March 12, 1920 at Listowel, Ont. She attended Grade School to graduation of Grade XII in Listowel and after graduation, became Secretary for the Listowel High School. She moved to Hamilton, Ont. And attended the Canada Business College completing an included course in Pitman Shorthand. Following completion of this course she became the private secretary for the President of Canadian Canners Ltd. in Hamilton until she married Paul Holmes in 1946, who was in the RCMP. After fourteen years in Hamilton, they were transferred to Saskatchewan where they resided at Glaslyn, Lloydminster and later moved to Calgary, Alberta. Marian then worked for Insurance Adjusters and Alberta Land Titles. In 1974, they decided to move to Salmon Arm, BC, and in 2007 moved once again and the last time, to Creston to be closer to family.
The couple had four children, Lynda (Maguire, deceased in 2008, also in Creston), David, Brian and Dayle (Todd).
During her years, Marian became an ace seamstress and quilter. When the children were small she made most of their clothing. She also made wedding gowns and heavy knit sweaters for sale to augment the family income. She was a Life Member of the Salmon Arm Quilters Guild. Marian was the recipient of the RCMP Commissioners’ ‘2nd Man Award’ for voluntarily assisting her husband, Paul, with RCMP administrative & other tasks at Glaslyn, a one man Detachment.
In 2015, Marian suffered congestive heart failure which ultimately ended her life on August 21. Marian was cremated and is interned at the Forest Lawn Cemetary alongside her oldest child, Lynda.
She was a loving wife and mother, and will be sadly missed by her adoring husband, children, nieces, nephews and many others. She will always be lovingly remembered.