Leota Merle Simmons Holmes

Leota Merle Simmons Holmes of Lubbock, Texas, left her earthly body on Thursday, December 15, 2022, and held her bond with the hand of her Lord and Savior. As a benevolent believer in Jesus, Merle leaves a legacy of comfort reminiscent of the many warm garments and quilts she created for family and friends throughout her life. Graveside Service: 2 p.m. Monday, December 19, 2022 at De Leon Cemetery in De Leon, Texas. Visitation: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, December 18, 2022 at White’s Funeral Home, 130 Houston Ave., Weatherford, Texas. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in Merle’s name to your favorite charity. Born on September 14, 1925, to William Sanford and Mollie Curtis Cagle Simmons, in Hall County, Texas, near Memphis, Merle grew up in Texas Panhandle cotton fields until as a six-year-old she lost one kidney to a horse-drawn wagon wheel. After a miraculous recovery that defied 1936 medical practices, Merle was relegated to caring for siblings too young to pick cotton. As a 17-year-old freshman at Howard Payne College in Brownwood, Texas, Merle met her future husband Doyle Holmes but did not date until after he returned from WWII. Following graduation, Merle married Doyle on July 4, 1946. The fourth of eight children, Merle is preceded in death by her parents; her adoring husband; sisters, Elena Hill, and Jean Brannon; brother, Jimmy Simmons; and granddaughter, Hailey Holmes. Merle is survived by sons, Gary (Angie) of Victoria, Texas, Steve (Patti) of Aledo, Texas, Landry (Janetta) of White House, Tennessee; grandchildren, Hether (Armando) Lopez, Hannah (Jed) English, Seth (Jenni) Barnett, Peter (Danielle) Holmes, Jared (Mary) Holmes; 10 great-grandchildren; and siblings, Loma Hendricks, Lindel Bittick, Ivy Moore, and Walter (Barbara) Simmons.