Hazel Edson Holmes, 91

March 7, 1924 - July 17, 2015

On July 17, 2015, Hazel Edson Holmes succumbed to lymphoma after a 10-year battle. She was a strong woman and gave it a valiant fight. She was 91 years old.

Hazel was an Idaho girl, born in St. Maries and raised in Kingston where her father owned a logging camp. She graduated from Kingston High in 1942 and in 1944 enlisted in the U.S. Navy WAVES to see the world. After basic training in New York she was stationed at Farragut 16 miles from home. Her Navy uniform is on display at the Farragut museum today. While there she met and married Cpl. Joe (Mike) H. Holmes USMC. They made their home in North Idaho.

In 1950 Mike joined the Army and the family left Idaho to live the military life. Hazel finally got to travel and see more of the world as they had two tours in Germany and numerous stateside posting.

They later retired to Hauser Lake, Idaho, where they started a small business, Mike's Boats and Hazel's Oars. During this time Hazel also worked in the office of the Forest Service nursery. She also volunteered for 25 years as an election official.

Hazel's priority was always her family - children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She made each one of us feel special and loved. She taught us many things including how to fish and whistle.

She loved baseball (go Mariners!), strawberries, picking huckleberries, swimming in the North Fork River (even when the water was freezing, she found it refreshing) and traveling. Always an active person, she completed Bloomsday 25 times!

Hazel is survived by four of her children, Patrick Holmes, Melanie (Richard) Hougham, Joe (Debbie) Holmes and Laura (Tony) Burzinski along with seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her son, Michael Randy Holmes and her husband, Joe (Mike) Holmes.

The family would like to extend our thanks to Dr. Samuels and staff for their wonderful care and support of our mother for the past 10 years. We'd also like to thank Hospice of North Idaho for their compassion and caring.

Donations in Hazel's name can be made to Hospice of North Idaho or the American Cancer Society. You may leave a personal comment for the family at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 23, 2015, at English Funeral Chapel, Post Falls, Idaho, with burial to follow at Evergreen Cemetery, Post Falls.