Frances Holmes
d. August 6, 2015
Frances Holmes
Fran Fagan Holmes, 61, of Little Rock died Thursday, August 6, 2015 from complications associated with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, a neuro-degenerative disease she struggled with for several years.
Fran was preceded in death by her parents, Ellis M. and Frances G. Fagan. She is survived by her husband, Joe Holmes, and daughter, Anna Mabrey, both of Little Rock; brothers David Fagan and his wife, Nancy, of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Warren Fagan and his wife, Pam, of Little Rock; brother-in-law Robert Holmes and his wife, Gayle, of Little Rock; nephews Winston Fagan (Lauren Fisher) of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Carter Fagan of Travis Air Force Base, California; nieces Jennifer Holloway (David) of Charleston, South Carolina, and Lindsey Hendricks (Todd) of Maumelle, Arkansas; four great nephews; and her Norwegian sister of nearly 45 years, Else Kobbe, and her husband, Harald, of Bergen, Norway.
Fran was born December 15, 1953, in Little Rock. She attended Little Rock Public Schools, graduating from Hall High School in 1972. She was a 1976 graduate of Hollins College in Roanoke, Virginia, earning a degree in biology, and received additional training in medical technology at Sparks Regional Medical Center in Fort Smith.
After working for several years as a medical technologist at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Fran joined Merck Pharmaceuticals in 1988, retiring more than 22 years later in 2010 as an Executive Hospital Representative. Throughout her career, Fran was a friend, mentor and leader to the many people she worked with from across the U.S. In 2015, Merck established the Fran Holmes Regional Leadership Award to be given annually to the Hospital Representative who encompasses the attributes that Fran brought to her profession: ethics and integrity, focusing on customers and patients, acting with courage and candor, and driving results.
Fran was a lifelong Presbyterian and a member of Second Presbyterian Church in Little Rock for more than 40 years. She served as an elder, deacon and clerk of the session.
Fran's kindness toward others and positive outlook on life gave rise to endless joys, most important of which were being a mother, a wife, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, and a friend. Beyond family and friends, in no specific order, Fran loved traveling near and far, catching fish (not necessarily fishing), spending holidays with family and friends (pulling out the good china for Thanksgiving and Easter), eating out, eating in, playing a lively game of hearts, working to collapse in the yard, and sharing freely and often the most contagious, joyous laugh unique only to her.
Over the past few years, as the disease progressed and her world became smaller and less mobile, Fran found interest and joy in the smallest of things, never complaining and always ready to share her bright smile and that laugh. Fran lived life to the end with grace, dignity, strength and humor.
Throughout the long course of her illness, family members and friends found unique roles at various stages to help care for and support Fran and her family. Their countless cards and notes kept spirits high and laughter near, and all are greatly appreciated. Special, heartfelt thanks go to all the staff - doctors, nurses, nursing assistants, housekeeping, food service, everyone - at Hospice Home Care Inpatient Unit on South Bowman Road for the professional, loving and gentle care they gave to Fran over the past year, helping her to maintain as good a quality of life as possible.
Her Memorial Service will be at 11:30 a.m. Monday, August 10 at Second Presbyterian Church in Little Rock, followed by a reception at the church. Private burial will be at Roselawn Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Second Presbyterian Church, 600 Pleasant Valley Drive, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72227 or to CurePSP, online at www.psp.org/donate, or by mail at 30 East Padonia Road, Suite 201, Timonium, MD 21093.
Arrangements are by Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct., (501)224-2200. Fran's online guestbook may be signed at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.
600 Pleasant Valley Drive
Little Rock, AR, 72227
Fran was preceded in death by her parents, Ellis M. and Frances G. Fagan. She is survived by her husband, Joe Holmes, and daughter, Anna Mabrey, both of Little Rock; brothers David Fagan and his wife, Nancy, of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Warren Fagan and his wife, Pam, of Little Rock; brother-in-law Robert Holmes and his wife, Gayle, of Little Rock; nephews Winston Fagan (Lauren Fisher) of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Carter Fagan of Travis Air Force Base, California; nieces Jennifer Holloway (David) of Charleston, South Carolina, and Lindsey Hendricks (Todd) of Maumelle, Arkansas; four great nephews; and her Norwegian sister of nearly 45 years, Else Kobbe, and her husband, Harald, of Bergen, Norway.
Fran was born December 15, 1953, in Little Rock. She attended Little Rock Public Schools, graduating from Hall High School in 1972. She was a 1976 graduate of Hollins College in Roanoke, Virginia, earning a degree in biology, and received additional training in medical technology at Sparks Regional Medical Center in Fort Smith.
After working for several years as a medical technologist at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Fran joined Merck Pharmaceuticals in 1988, retiring more than 22 years later in 2010 as an Executive Hospital Representative. Throughout her career, Fran was a friend, mentor and leader to the many people she worked with from across the U.S. In 2015, Merck established the Fran Holmes Regional Leadership Award to be given annually to the Hospital Representative who encompasses the attributes that Fran brought to her profession: ethics and integrity, focusing on customers and patients, acting with courage and candor, and driving results.
Fran was a lifelong Presbyterian and a member of Second Presbyterian Church in Little Rock for more than 40 years. She served as an elder, deacon and clerk of the session.
Fran's kindness toward others and positive outlook on life gave rise to endless joys, most important of which were being a mother, a wife, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, and a friend. Beyond family and friends, in no specific order, Fran loved traveling near and far, catching fish (not necessarily fishing), spending holidays with family and friends (pulling out the good china for Thanksgiving and Easter), eating out, eating in, playing a lively game of hearts, working to collapse in the yard, and sharing freely and often the most contagious, joyous laugh unique only to her.
Over the past few years, as the disease progressed and her world became smaller and less mobile, Fran found interest and joy in the smallest of things, never complaining and always ready to share her bright smile and that laugh. Fran lived life to the end with grace, dignity, strength and humor.
Throughout the long course of her illness, family members and friends found unique roles at various stages to help care for and support Fran and her family. Their countless cards and notes kept spirits high and laughter near, and all are greatly appreciated. Special, heartfelt thanks go to all the staff - doctors, nurses, nursing assistants, housekeeping, food service, everyone - at Hospice Home Care Inpatient Unit on South Bowman Road for the professional, loving and gentle care they gave to Fran over the past year, helping her to maintain as good a quality of life as possible.
Her Memorial Service will be at 11:30 a.m. Monday, August 10 at Second Presbyterian Church in Little Rock, followed by a reception at the church. Private burial will be at Roselawn Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Second Presbyterian Church, 600 Pleasant Valley Drive, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72227 or to CurePSP, online at www.psp.org/donate, or by mail at 30 East Padonia Road, Suite 201, Timonium, MD 21093.
Arrangements are by Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct., (501)224-2200. Fran's online guestbook may be signed at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.
Service
AUG 10. 11:30 AM (CDT)
Second Presbyterian Church600 Pleasant Valley Drive
Little Rock, AR, 72227
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