Joseph Clift Holmes, 84, of Huntsville, passed away Thursday, July 8, 2021.
Joe was a native of Bisbe, AZ and a resident of Madison County since 1962. He was a retired Master Gunnery Sgt. from the United States Marine Corp with a 33 year distinguished career. Joe received the Purple Heart and many other highly decorated medals and awards with service in the Korean War and Vietnam War. He was a member of Willowbrook Baptist Church for many years and was an owner/operator of Nolen’s Bar-be-cue for over 10 years. He was Economic Development Director for Choctaw State Chamber of Commerce.
Joe (aka Grandpa Joe or Pop) loved his family more than anything. He was a devoted husband to Lynnette and spent their 33 years of marriage enjoying the fruits of a combined family and the love it brings. He loved taking care of his wife and spoiling her everyday by bringing her coffee in bed. He was the rock of this big combined family who all loved him dearly. He enjoyed spending time with his family and cooking for them as often as he could — you never went to see Joe Holmes without being fed and hearing his whistle all the while preparing your meal.
Earlier in life, Joe loved hunting with his sons and friends, searching for arrowheads and using his metal detector to find what he called “treasures”. Joe never met a stranger and loved telling his stories of growing up in Bisbee, AZ, his family Cherokee heritage and his service time in the Unites States Marine Corps, including fighting in the Korean and Vietnam wars. One of Joe’s many notorieties is his role in the 1957 film, ‘The D.I.’ His family loved having a movie star as their role model and they loved hearing the stories of his time in Hollywood during filming, who he met, how it was to be an actor in Hollywood while he was an actual Marine.
He loved collecting memorabilia of his time in the Corps and ‘scrapbooking’ his service and the service of all his family members. Marine Corps is in his family’s blood with generations serving the USMC. He was featured in numerous articles and published in at least two books, Bill Easterling’s “Voices On A Cold Day” published in 1986 and “Just The Facts, Ma’am: The Authorized Biography of Jack Webb” published in 1999. He had the keen ability to always bring a smile to your face and make people laugh —– always finding a way to bring sunshine to any situation.
Later in life, Joe enjoyed retirement by spending endless hours with his family and loving wife, doing crossword puzzles, watching 24 hour News stations or game shows, and reminiscing while sharing pictures of his well lived life. Joe gave tirelessly of himself always helping others. He had a forgiving spirit that will live on in his children. He has taught his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren that less is more and to always love one another and be kind to others. That is how he lived his life. Semper Fi Marine . . . . Oorah
Survivors include his wife, Lynnette H. Holmes; 11 children, Nancy E. Starr (Ken), Joseph C. “Tanker” Holmes, Jr. (Dannie), Denise R. Holmes, Scott White, Wendy H. Pierce (Cater), Bobby White (Patti), Diana Crawford (Shelby), Chris Holmes (Sharyn), Jennifer Hubbard (Chris), Jeremy R. Holmes, Sr. (Hope), and Theodore “Teddy” C. Holmes; 24 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Babes Boyles (Jimmy) and Sally Johnston (Freddie).
He was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel T. Holmes and Royal Josephine Holmes; two brothers, Samuel T. Holmes, Jr. and James Robert Holmes; and two sisters, Eva Mae Adams and Mary Ann Albright.
Visitation will be Tuesday, July 13th from 12:00 – 2:00 PM at Berryhill Funeral Home followed by service at 2:00. Burial will be at Maple Hill Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Purple Heart Association of the Huntsville Chapter of the Marine Toys For Tots.
