Dorothy M. (Reynolds) Holmes

When Irish Eyes Are Smiling

Dorothy Mae Reynolds Holmes, 98, passed away peacefully at Lake City Care Center on Thursday, October 29, 2020.   She was born on November 25, 1921 to Bert and Eunice Reynolds in Red Wing, MN.  Dorothy attended St. Joseph’s Grade School and graduated from Red Wing High School in 1939.  As a junior and senior, she was also employed at Nord’s Drug Store where she met her future husband, Burton Holmes, a pharmacist from Goodhue, MN.  They were married in 1943 in Norfolk, VA while Burt was in the US Navy. They lived in Edenton, N.C. Tucson, AZ and New York City until he was sent to a destroyer in the South Pacific.  Dorothy returned to Red Wing and worked again at Nord’s Drug Store until Burt came home after the war and they purchased the business and changed the name to Holmes Drug. It remained the family business for several years until it was sold and became Corner Drug. Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 58 years, and three sons, Jim, Tom, and Jack.  She is survived by two sons: Jeff (Cheryl) in St. Paul and Pete (Tohnya) in New Orleans, grandchildren Chris (Ashley) Holmes of Hammond, WI, Jamie (Brian) Dillig in Mahtomedi and Shaiyena and Jaycee Holmes in New Orleans as well as great grandchildren Case James Holmes, Croix Christopher Holmes, Cannon Jeffrey Holmes, Brynn Christine Dillig, Jack Jeffrey Dillig and Cason Blackmon Holmes.  Active and involved in many organizations, Dorothy was a district manager for World Book Encyclopedia from 1968 to 1973.  She was then City Hostess and owner of the Red Wing Welcome Service from 1973 to 2008.  Dorothy received several awards for her volunteer work throughout the years.  Most notable was starting the National Alliance on Mental Illness with 262 other volunteers from around the country.  They all travelled to Madison, WI in 1979 to form the organization which now numbers over 230,000 members. NAMI promotes increasing services, advocacy, education, and research for the families of the mentally ill.  Dorothy was president of the Goodhue County NAMI for 20 years and was on the State Board of Mental Health Advocates Coalition of Minnesota. Over the years she received numerous awards for her volunteer work in mental health, including one from Gov. Perpich and one from Blue Cross Blue Shield as well as the Red Wing Hall of Fame from the Woman’s Network.  Dorothy belonged to many other organizations, her favorite being lifelong membership in League of Women Voters.  She helped originate the local St. Patrick’s party and parade and walked in the first St. Paul parade, representing Red Wing as Queen Colleen VII. She also was co-founder of the ABCD Club (Above and Beyond the Call of Duty).  The group raised funds for St. Joseph’s School for decades. Dorothy was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, the Goodhue County Mental Health Advisory Board, and a member of St. Thomas Academy Mother’s Club for 12 years. She served on the first Red Wing Sister City commission which recognized Quzhau, China, and then Ikata, Japan and she received the Leadership in Community award from the Jaycees.

The family would like to especially recognize and extend a heartfelt thanks to extraordinary friend and caretaker Sarah Stinson, who helped tremendously through the years.  Kathy Bristol and Sandy Jensen were also very dear, kind, and helpful friends for many years.  The family thanks you all.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.  She will be buried at Calvary Cemetery where she will join her husband and three sons for eternity.

Memorials preferred to NAMI Minnesota, 1919 University Ave., Suite 400, St. Paul, MN 55104 or Lake City Care Center, 500 W. Grant Street, Lake City, MN 55041. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.mahnfamilyfuneralhome.com