Lora Alice Holmes passed away on December 30th, in Oklahoma City at the age of 97. She was born Lora Alice Harden on June 19, 1925, to John Bluford and Mary Olive (Horton) Harden, in Ponca City. Lora was known as Alice to most people, Topsy to some, and also Mom, Grandma, Oklagrandma, and Namaw (Grandma) Great. She spent most of her life in Ponca City and graduated from Ponca City High School in 1943. In 1945, she was married to Leslie H. Barthel for 15 year and raised three children L. Harlen Jr. (1946), Sharon A. (1948), and Roger L. (1952). She married Fred A. Holmes Sr. in 1966 and became a step-mother for Cheryl A., Chris L., and Fred A. Jr. They remained married until Fred Sr.’s death in 1986. She worked as a dental assistant to Dr. R.L. Moore at a dental office in Ponca City from 1960 until retiring in 1992. In 1997 she returned to work providing tours at the Marland Mansion in Ponca City until finally retiring in 2018, at the age of 94. She lived in the Ponca City until 2020 when she moved to Moore, OK to be closer to family.

Alice was preceded in death by her parents (J.B. and Mary Harden), husband (Fred Holmes), sister (Darlene), and a daughter-in-law (Juanita Barthel). She is survived by her children and spouses: Harlen Barthel, Sharon and Tommy Gary, Roger and Jodie Barthel, Cheryl and Don Lewis, Chris and Cindy Holmes, and Fred and Patty Holmes. Alice is also survived by her 16 grandchildren and 30 great grandchildren.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00pm on January 28th at the Lydie’s Cottage on the Marland Mansion grounds (901 Monument Rd, Ponca City, OK 74604). In lieu of flowers Alice asked that donations be made support her grandson, Ben Barthel’s Muscular Dystrophy research. Donations can be made to Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) two ways, online donations can be made at https://donate. parentprojectmd.org/fundraiser/ 4370728 or checks can be sent via mail to PPMD 1012 14th St, NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20005.

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