John Ellsworth Holmes, age 98, former resident of Prescott, Kansas and more recently of Presbyterian Village, Fort Scott, died Thursday, June 07, 2012, at Mercy Hospital, Fort Scott. He was born September 28, 1913 in Prescott, Kansas, the son of Arthur E. Holmes and Florence McLaughlin Holmes. John attended Shilo Grade School then went to Prescott High School where he graduated in 1931. John married Marian Washler on July 3, 1945 at Prescott. She preceded him in death on July 20, 2006. He was a cattle and hog farmer until 1973, and then became president of the Prescott Bank until 1979 when he retired. For several years, John and his wife alternated living in South Texas for the winter months and Colorado for the summer months. He was a member of the Prescott United Methodist Church prior to moving to Fort Scott where he joined and attended faithfully the Community Christian Church. John was active in the “You Are Welcome” Sunday school class. He did volunteer work with ARMS in Joplin and supported several missions in both Haiti and India. He was a leader in 4-H for many years. He helped start the Countryview Nursing Home. His hobbies include woodcarving, leather tooling and conquering Sudoku puzzles. He loved to play Skip-Bo and Dominos with the Presbyterian residents several nights each week.

Survivors include a brother, Floyd A. Holmes, Grove, Oklahoma; two sisters, Hazel Grigsby and Florine O’Rourke, both of Pleasanton, Kansas. Also surviving are eleven nieces and nephews; and numerous great nieces, great nephews, great- great nieces and great-great nephews. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by a brother, William Ned Holmes and a nephew Everett Grisby.

Rev. Kevin Moyers will conduct funeral services at 2:00 P.M. Tuesday in the Community Christian Church. Burial will follow in the Holmes Cemetery at Prescott. The family will receive friends from 1:00 P.M. until service time at the church. Memorials are suggested to the Community Christian Church may be sent to Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.