PRESQUE ISLE – Olen “Slim” Holmes, 88, of Presque Isle died Nov. 15, 2003, at his daughter’s ho-me surrounded by his children. He was born Jan. 27, 1915, in Caribou, the son of Norman and Alice Holmes. He was predeceased by his wife of 62 years, Dorothy Holmes, who passed away last August; his parents; two brothers, Burnham and Floyd; and a special daughter-in-law, Judy Holmes. Slim worked on his father’s farm until his high school graduation, then at N.W. Downing and for Coca-Cola as a plant manager. He entered the service and served in the Pacific. On his return he purchased the lodge on the Houlton Road, which later became the Holmes Motel and Hitching Post Drive-In Restaurant. The Hitching Post Drive-In was well known throughout the county for its fried clams and onion rings. Olen was a member of the Chamber of Commerce and a life member of the Live Wire Club. He was a communicant at St. Mary’s Catholic Church and was also a life member of the Knights of Columbus. For many years Slim was very active in the V.F.W. and served in the military order as a supreme council member. He also served as the chair of the state V.F.W., two years on the National Council, and five years on the National Legislative Committee. For several years he was the director of the Northern Maine Fair and served two years as general manager. An active Lions Club member, he served as District Governor and Chairman of Boast. He is survived by a son, Donald Holmes of Seminole, Fla.; two daughters, Norma Manter and her husband, John, of Fort Fairfield, Susan Czosnek and her husband, David, of Presque Isle; one sister, Gertrude Davis of Wilminton, Mass.; and a special friend, Sylvia Pingree; grandchildren, David and Suzanne Holmes, John and Lauren Holmes, Tim and Colleen Holmes, Tom and Laura Holmes, Brian and Kim Manter, Jeff and Deedra Manter, Shawn and Heidi Manter, Kelly Czonek, Ryan and Aron Czonek, Chris Czonck; and 17 great-grandchildren. Friends may call 7-9 p.m. Monday at the Duncan-Graves Funeral Home, 30 Church St., Presque Isle. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Presque Isle, with the Rev. Alfred Irving celebrant. Interment will take place immediately following the service at Evergreen Cemetery in Caribou. Those who wish may donate in Olen’s memory to the American Heart Association New England Affiliate, 20 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701 or to the Ronald McDonald House of Bangor, 654 State St., Bangor, ME 04401-5649. Arrangements in care of Duncan-Graves Funeral Home.
OLEN ‘SLIM’ HOLMES
