Dona J. Holmes

Dona J. Holmes of Blytheville, 92, passed away Dec. 23, 2023. She was born in Senath, Mo., to James M. (Mike) and Bessie Bohannon. The family moved to Blytheville in the 1940s. Dona was a graduate of Blytheville High School. She also studied at MCCC and Arkansas State University. Following her high school graduation, Dona first worked at First National Bank of Blytheville and later Ark-Mo Power Company. After her marriage and the birth of her daughter, she began working for the Farmers Bank and Trust Company in the bookkeeping department. She became the first female teller at that bank, and through the years she rose to the position of head teller, became the bank’s internal auditor, and finally finished her career at Farmers as trust officer in 1992. She then began working for the First National Bank as the trust officer and retired from that bank in 2000.

Dona was highly involved in the community, as secretary of the Mississippi County Fair Association, vice president of the Mississippi County Special Workshop, president and board member of Kiwanis Club, member of the Blytheville Chamber of Commerce Education and Downtown Merchants Committee, and member of the Education Advisory Board of Cotton Boll Technical Institute. Dona had an unwavering Christian faith and was a charter member of the Trinity Baptist Church, where she held many positions of leadership through the years, including Sunday school teacher and church treasurer. In her later years she continued to volunteer to assist the Gosnell Elementary School students with their reading. Dona enjoyed oil painting, traveling, Bible study, writing stories, needlecraft and reading. She had the unique ability to find something positive in nearly every situation.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband of more than 50 years, Louis L. Holmes.

She is survived by her daughter, Gay (Jared) Spears of O’Fallon, Mo.; granddaughter, Katherine (Samuel) Leach of St. Charles, Mo.; brother James (Carolyn) Bohannon of Heber Springs; two nieces, four great-nephews, one great-great niece, and one great-great nephew.

The family thanks the staff of Stonebridge in Blytheville for their care of Dona for the last several years. We also thank Gentiva Hospice and the medical professionals at the Mississippi County Hospitals.

The burial service was private. A memorial service will be held at Cobb Funeral Home on Jan. 6, Rev. Mike Welch officiating. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. with the service following at 11. In lieu of flowers, the family appreciates memorials to the Alzheimers’ Association. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.cobbfuneralhome.com.