Nancy Jane (Courtney) Holmes passed away peacefully on March 10, 2025 in St. Joseph MO. Nancy was born in Kirksville, MO to Harvey and Mable (Bush) Courtney, March 5, 1948. Nancy Graduated from Lafayette High School in 1966. Nancy held the position of Treasurer and Secretary for the alumni of the class of 1966. She held this position for many years and took great pride in her duties to support her fellow classmates.
Nancy maintained her kindness, grace, compassion, appreciation of beauty, love of family and friends, and expressed gratitude for her long life, full of wonderful and varied experiences.
Nancy's life can best be encapsulated by five "F" words: Family, Friends, Flowers, Food and Fun. In her 77 years here with us she experienced an abundance of each. Nancy always knew she wanted to someday raise a family of her own. She met Stephen Holmes on the bus in 1964, while attending Lafayette high school. She and Stephen knew they had met the person with whom they would build a family with. Married April 26 of 1968, Nancy and Stephen maintained a loving and supportive marriage of almost 57 years. Together they raised two children, Greg Holmes and David Holmes, and regularly engaged with their large extended family. Eventually Nancy and Stephen welcomed Greg & David’s spouses, Trisha and Christyl Holmes into their family.
Throughout this time, Nancy excelled in creating a beautiful and gracious home. The crowning glory for Nancy was the arrival of grandchildren and great- grandchildren. Nancy delighted in everything about her new role as a grandmother and great-grandmother. She made it a point to be as engaged as possible with her grandchildren. Nancy was thrilled to teach her grandchildren the art of making homemade noodles. Nancy’s other crowning glory was her scrapbooks. The love she shared in creating all those pages of memories lives on for her family and friends to cherish.
Nancy adored her friendships, developing them at each stage of her life, with them lasting the remainder of her lifetime. She was known not just for enjoying her friendships but for being a good friend as well.
Nancy was a gem of a person who appreciated all that life gave her.
We find comfort in knowing that Nancy lives on through the lessons she taught us, the love she shared, and the memories we will cherish forever.
Nancy was preceded in death by parents Harvey and Mable (Bush) Courtney, brother Ivan Courtney. Nancy is survived by her husband Stephen Holmes, children Greg (Tricia), David (Christyl) Holmes, 9 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren as well as many friends and extended family members who will miss her dearly.
The family will gather with friends 5:00 to 08:00 P.M. Friday, March 21, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory.
