Beverly Ann Holmes

Beverly Holmes, life-long resident of Laramie County, passed away at the age of 93 on April 16, 2026. She was born on January 17, 1933 in Hillsdale, Wyoming and spent the first 11 years of her life on the Whitehead family farm. She devoted her adult life to tracking the Whitehead family history. In 1944, she moved to Cheyenne to be with her mother, step-father Chuck Nair and newly arrived brother, Frank. Sister Susan joined the family in 1946. Bev was crowned “Miss Laramie County” in 1950.

Bev graduated from Cheyenne High School in 1951 and spent the rest of her life helping to organize class reunions. She married Bob Holmes in 1951 and together they had five children. The family was fondly known as the “7 B’s” (Bob, Bev, Bill, Barb, Betty, Bonnie and Brad.) Bob and Bev celebrated over 70 years of married life together before his passing in 2022. Before marrying Bob, Bev worked at the Sav Mor grocery store and was also a babysitter. When her kids were older, she worked as a teacher’s aide at Rossman Elementary School.

Bob and Bev resided for 44 years in Orchard Valley, south of Cheyenne and after Bob’s retirement in 1991, the couple would snowbird in Casa Grande, Arizona for 26 years.

The majority of Bev’s adult life was dedicated to volunteer work with her efforts going to the American Cancer Society; Cheyenne Meals on Wheels; the 4-H youth program; the Wyoming Militia Historical Society; Friends of Guernsey State Park; the Military Officers Wives Club of Cheyenne; the Laramie County and Wyoming Historical Societies; and the Wyoming Pioneer Association. She was an election poll worker for decades and also served as a tour guide for the State Capitol and the Governor’s Residence. She enjoyed giving a program on the Firsts of Wyoming to Fourth Grade Classes throughout our great state. Bev was a member of the Wyoming Homemakers for almost 75 years and received the organization’s top recognition of the “Quealy Award” in 1988. The Wyoming National Guard Museum in Cheyenne is named after Bev and her late husband, Bob who was a Guardsman for 42 years.

Bev spent most of her free time crocheting and the family often wondered how many miles of crochet thread and yarn she used over the years. Her Levi quilts were cherished family heirlooms. The family’s favorite meal was her homemade chicken and noodles. In her younger years, she was active with waterskiing and bowling. For almost 50 years, Bev looked forward to the annual family elk hunt in Area 10 above Arlington, Wyoming.

Bev was preceded in death by her husband, Bob; her parents, Chuck and Agnes Nair; and her in-laws, Otis and Marie Holmes. She is survived by brother Frank Nair of Gold Beach, Oregon; sister Susan Simon of Cheyenne; and her five children: Bill Holmes of Tucson, Arizona; Barb (Dan) Puett of Cheyenne; Betty Holmes of Laramie, Wyoming; Bonnie (Terry) McClure of Torrington, Wyoming; and Brad (Julie) Holmes of Dutton Creek, Wyoming. She was grandmother to Matt (Niccole) Puett of Cheyenne, Jake (Markelle) Holmes of Arvada, Colorado and Kyle Puett of Las Cruces, New Mexico. Late in life, she was blessed with two great-grandchildren, Archer and Ada Holmes.

Memorials in Bev’s name can be made to the Wyoming National Guard Museum or the Davis Hospice Center, where she received excellent care for the last days of her life. A memorial service will be held at Wiederspahn-Radomsky Chapel of the Chimes, 1900 E. 19th Street on Saturday, April 25th at 10:00 AM with a reception to follow at The Gathering Place, adjacent to the funeral home.