Kathy Lorraine Holmes

 

Kathy was born in Scott City, Kansas. Shortly afterwards, her family moved to Plains, Kansas, where her father opened a pharmacy. Kathy was very close in age to her brother Tom and was somewhat of a tomboy. She became peeved when she had to start wearing a shirt when she was outdoors. She attended Plains Grade School and graduated from Southwestern Heights high school in 1971. After her high school graduation, the family moved to Larned, Kansas, where she went to work at Larned State Hospital. This was the first of many jobs dedicated to public service. She worked as a Licensed Mental Health Technician at Larned State Hospital, Topeka State Hospital, and was first an aide and later a security guard at the Kansas Neurological Institute. Hospital closures necessitated her change in careers. She worked the rest of her career for the Capitol Police as a guard and a dispatcher. Kathy was fiercely loyal to family and friends. She had a lifelong love of animals and rescued many cats and dogs. She experienced several health issues during the last few years but retained her sense of humor and love of family and friends. She is survived by sister Kristine Holmes of Topeka, sister Belinda Holmes of Lawrence, Thomas Holmes (and his wife Florence) of Great Bend, and brother Dan in Cheney, and was preceded in death by parents Richard E. Holmes and Henrietta Belle Parks Holmes. A memorial service will be planned at some time in the future. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, her friends and family can make a memorial donation to Helping Hands Humane Society at 5720 SSW 21st Street, Topeka, Kansas, 66604, or through their website at hhhstopeka.org. Please designate on your check or website contribution that it is in memory of Kathy.