Valerie Holmes

TAYLORVILLE - Valerie L. Holmes, 53, beloved mother, nana, daughter, aunt, friend, and follower of Christ, passed from this life in the embrace of her Heavenly Father, Sunday, September 5, 2010 at 2:23 AM in her home surrounded by her family and close friends. On August 11, 1957 Valerie was born to Marjorie A. and Eugene R. Griffiths in Springfield, IL, was a 1975 graduate of Taylorville High School, and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Education from Blackburn University. She was married to Ronald R. Holmes on August 13, 1977. Valerie was a lifelong member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Taylorville where she was the choir director and a member of the chimes choir. Valerie accepted her first teaching position in first grade at West Elementary School where she taught for seven years before she and her family moved to Scottsdale, AZ in 1989. She continued teaching first grade at the Indian Bend Elementary School. After returning to Taylorville in 1998, she followed her passion for the arts and obtained a music degree and became a wonderful orchestra teacher in the Taylorville school system. She then accepted a position as the orchestra teacher for the Decatur Elementary Schools where she has been for the last five years. Valerie was truly a beautiful person. Her smile was luminous and her laugh contagious. Her loving and caring nature kept family and friends dear to her heart, always there to help others and treasured her memories. Valerie expressed her passions through her many talents. She absolutely loved music and used her gifts of piano, orchestra and singing to teach, perform, and bring others together. Valerie was known for her beautiful voice and was always singing whether solo or in a group such as GraceNotes. In addition to her musical skills, she truly enjoyed to grow stunning gardens and could make any landscape picturesque. She had spent countless hours outside adding to and perfecting her mother's garden. Valerie drew inspiration from the gardens and could change any canvas into a masterpiece in the beautiful paintings she created. Whenever Valerie set her mind to something, she was unwaveringly determined to accomplish her goals and was finishing her Masters at Eastern University. She was very hardworking and dedicated. She was a follower of God and worshiped her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through love and music. Valerie is survived by her children: Michelle, BriAnne, Richie, and George Holmes; grandchildren: Lillian, IreLynn, and Isabella Holmes; mother Marjorie Griffiths; sister Kathleen Knope and husband Peter; Nieces: Annie and Marjorie Knope; Nephew Peter Knope; beloved Richard Black; Uncles: Harold Hofener, Reverend Robert Hofener and wife Esther; many cousins and dear friends. Preceding her in death were her grandparents Ralph and Irene Hofener; Uncles and Aunts: Bob and Helen Fischmann, Becky Hofener, George and Jean Brown. Funeral services will be Thursday September 9th at 10:00AM at Trinity Lutheran Church of 1010 North Webster Street in Taylorville. Visitation will be from 5PM to 8PM Wednesday September 8th at Shafer-Perfetti Funeral Home at 202 W. Franklin Street. Internment: Grove City Cemetery at Mt Auburn. Obituary written by family members. Online guest book at www.legacy.com/herald-review/Obituaries.asp

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