CARIBOU – Merlin S. Holmes, 79, died Feb. 23, 2011, in Caribou. He was born May 31, 1931, in Caribou, the son of Russell and Velma (Dyer) Holmes.
He was a graduate of Caribou High School, Class of 1948, and Zion Bible Institute in 1949. Merlin served with the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He was employed at Cary Medical Center as patient’s accounts manager for 20 years until his retirement. He was a member of Caribou Assembly of God Church, a life member of Lister-Knowlton Post No. 9389 Veterans of Foreign Wars, and was a member Caribou Lions Club.
He is survived by two sons, Bernard Holmes and his wife, Suzette, of Houlton and Russell Holmes and his wife, Lori Mailman, of Phoenix; one daughter, Rene McGillicuddy of Houlton; three brothers, Floyd Holmes and his wife, Merlyn, of Monument, Colo., Dale Holmes and his wife, Phyllis, and Donald Holmes, all of Caribou; five grandchildren, Allen, Jessica, Shelby, Michael and Aaron; two great-grandchildren, Jaxyn and Aiden; several nieces and nephews. He will also be remembered by the love of his life, Sandy Davenport of Caribou; and her children, Lisa Anderson and her husband, Robert, and their children, Josh and Dylan, and Russell Monson; and by the mother of his children and friend, Ruth Holmes of Houlton. He was predeceased by a brother, Clifford Holmes; and a sister, Maxine McLean.
Memorial services will be held 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 28, from the chapel of Mockler Funeral Home, 24 Reservoir St., Caribou, with Gerald Sullivan officiating. Interment will take place at Maine Veterans Cemetery, Caribou. In lieu of flowers, friends who wish to contribute in memory of Merlin may do so to Alzheimer’s Association, Maine Chapter, 163 Lancaster St., Suite 160B, Portland, ME 04101-2406. Envelopes may be obtained through the funeral home. For an online register, please go to
www.mocklerfuneralhome.com.