Marilyn Holmes

MARILYN SUE HOLMES

Fort Madison

Marilyn Sue Holmes, 71, passed away at 10:10 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022, at her home after a two-year battle with cancer. Per her wishes, her body has been cremated.

She was born April 3, 1950, in Springfield, Ill., a daughter of H. Moulton and Lorena (Davis) Fulton. She grew up on a farm just outside Ashland, Ill., where she attended school, graduating

in 1968 from Ashland High School.

Marilyn had two children in her first marriage, Matthew Elliott and Jennifer (Elliott) Kelly. On Aug. 26, 2001, she married Charles Holmes, who survives.

After graduating from high school, she was employed by the Illinois State Police, then later by the Iowa Department of Transportation in Fairfield, and most recently by her husband in his dental office in Fort Madison.

Marilyn began playing the piano and organ in grade school and continued to play both for the next 60 years in churches and for special musical productions. She was a volunteer for many years for various groups and events, including the Fort Madison Community Hospital Auxiliary, of which she was a member and past president. She was a member and musician of the First Baptist Church in Fairfield for many years before moving to Fort Madison, where she was a member and musician of the First Baptist Church, and active with its Red Hat Ladies and Thursday Evening Sewing Ministry. She was a member of the Tri State Quilt Guild, the Bessie Morrison Kings Daughters and enjoyed baking, bringing home numerous blue ribbons from the Lee County Fair.

In addition to being survived by her husband, Charles, she is survived by her two children, Matthew (Stacey) of Phoenix, Ariz., and Jennifer (the late Chris Kelly) of Urbandale, Iowa; three grandchildren, Claire, Grace and Henry Kelly; two siblings, Stanley (Jeanne) Fulton and Judy Kaye Fulton, all three of Ashland; two nephews, Dustin (Kristen) Fulton and Cale Fulton; and one niece, Brandi (Ron) Tolley. She is also survived by many friends who valued her friendship and kindness, and loved ones of the Fulton, Elliott, Kelly and Holmes families.

She was preceded in death by her parents and son-in-law, Chris Kelly.

Her family will greet friends from 5 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24, at Barr Memorial Chapel, Fort Madison. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 25, at First Baptist Church, Fort Madison, with Pastor Dean Graber and her nephew, Pastor Dustin Fulton, officiating. Interment will immediately follow in the Oakland Cemetery, Fort Madison, with a luncheon to follow at the First Baptist Family Life Center, Fort Madison.

Memorials may be made to the Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice or the First Baptist Church, Fort Madison. Barr Memorial Chapel is honored to serve the Holmes family and an online guest book may be found at www.barrmemorialchapel.com.