Betty Elaine Holmes

Betty Elaine (Hawbaker) Holmes, age 97, of Hiawassee, Georgia passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 22, 2022. Betty was born April 15, 1925, in Manistee, Michigan. Betty was preceded in death by her infant brother Garth Lee, her parents Levi D. and Dorothy D. Hawbaker, her husband John W. “Bill” Holmes, sons John Lee Holmes, Rodney W. Holmes, and grandson Trevor Holmes. Betty was a devoted wife to Bill, they married February 15, 1942, in Blairsville, Georgia. Bill and Betty moved to Bryson City and shortly thereafter moved to Fontana, NC where Bill worked for TVA on the Dam project. They later moved to Michigan where Bill worked at Dow Chemical in Midland, Michigan as an electrician for 40 years. Betty worked in the school cafeteria and also at the Betty Barry Dress Shop in St. Louis, Michigan. Soon after retiring in 1993 Bill and Betty relocated to Hiawassee to return to their roots and escape the Michigan winters. Betty was known for her love of cooking and baking, especially her Christmas sugar cookies, apple pie, cinnamon rolls and homemade bread! Betty enjoyed playing Mexican Dominoes and even mastered the game on her electronic tablet! She enjoyed traveling and camping at the “orchard“ in Northern Michigan near the Sleeping Bear Dunes where she and Bill spent many summers during their retirement years with their grandchildren and many other dear friends and relatives.
Betty is survived by 2 daughters; Carol (Gary) Oeder of Hiawassee, Georgia and Sue Forte of Laurel, Maryland; 8 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild, as well as several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends also survive. Arrangements entrusted to Banister-Cooper Funeral Home of Hiawassee. You may sign the family guest book and send condolences on-line at www.banisterfuneral.com

Services: Saturday, October 1, 2022
Visitation: Saturday, October 1, 2022 from 1:00 - 2:00pm at Banister-Cooper Funeral Home
Funeral: Saturday, October 1, 2022 2:00pm at the chapel of Banister-Cooper Funeral Home with Pastor Dave Wesche officiating.
Pallbearers: Noah Kurz, Alex Mayhew and Garrett Mayhew,
Justin Holmes, Truman Holmes, Bennett Holmes
Honorary: Gary Oeder, Rick Mayhew, Joe Kratz, Dan Bart