Lavelle Parratt Holmes

Our Beloved Mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and sister, LaVelle Parratt Holmes died peacefully surrounded by her family, on Monday, September 26, 2022, in Richland, Washington. She was 81 years of age.

She was born January 30, 1941, in Concord, California to Francis F. and Virginia Burton Parratt, where she not only joined her parents for this earthly life, but also grew up with her older sister Ruth. This relationship would last till the very last day of LaVelle’s life. Her family then moved to Washington state, where she grew up.

At the age of thirteen, LaVelle joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This would change the course of her life in the many choices and decisions she would make during her lifetime.

A few years later, LaVelle married John Leonard Holmes on November 8, 1957, in Coulee Dam Washington. They were later sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on August 25, 1960. She was the one to introduce John to the church, which he fully embraced. This common bond would lead them to Utah, where they would spend the rest of their lives raising a family of nine children. Their earthly marriage would last almost 54 years.

LaVelle and John were natural entrepreneurs and owned several businesses including a fabric store, a women's clothing store, and a car detailing business. LaVelle and John knew how to work and provide for their large family.

LaVelle would follow John to many parts of Utah to usually start a new adventure.

They moved from the Salt Lake area to the Sanpete County area, making a home in both Gunnison and later, Richfield, Utah. After John passed, she made her final stop in Logan, Utah. A place that she dearly came to love.

LaVelle had a sharp sense of humor. She passed this along to all nine of her children. There were moments of uncontrollable laughter and happy tears when having uplifting and sometimes fierce and funny conversations.

She had the remarkable ability to make friends of all ages. She was a wonderful listener which made her circle of friends large. She would share many small and sometimes large anecdotes of wisdom, yet she would never force anyone to accept what she had to give.

LaVelle was an example of service. She served in many different capacities for her church. She was Relief Society President three times. She served as Primary President. Later in life, after John passed away, she served as a Family History missionary back in her beloved home state of Washington. Her final call of service in the church was teaching a Temple Preparation class in her ward.

LaVelle was dedicated to doing family history work. She strongly believed in this work and that it was a way to reach out to her loved ones who had gone before her. She wanted to make sure that she kept the family ties and bonds going. She felt a closeness to those that had gone before her and had a great connection to them.

She wrote her own biography titled “Oh, Our Fair Ones”, which was published. She was passionate about her book. She hoped that it would help others understand her thoughts about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

LaVelle had other gifts that would shine through. She had a beautiful singing voice. She knew how to wear pink clothing and pink lipstick perfectly. She constantly wrote lists to accomplish daily tasks. She loved to tie quilts and sew pajamas for her children. She was an avid reader of church books and the holy scriptures. But mostly, her ability to decorate a home on a budget was remarkable. Her home was lovely and inviting.

LaVelle adored her family and loved gathering them together as much as possible. There were many milestone anniversaries and birthdays that her children would gather for. She loved having picnics.

LaVelle and John left a current legacy of 92 Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren.

She is survived by her loving nine children. David Lynn (Teresa) Holmes, Eric Brian (Heidi) Holmes, Craig Leonard (Cindee) Holmes, Cynthia LaVelle (Adam) Taylor, Kimberly Marie (Mark) Adams, Linda Kay (Eric) Jensen, Alysia Ann Peterson, Melissa Nadine Imlay, Justin Paul (Jessica)Holmes, and one sister, Ruth Poorman. She is also survived by 47 Grandchildren and 29 Great-Grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her husband John, her parents, Francis and Virginia Parratt, two grandsons, Seth Adam Taylor and Cameron Tyler Jensen.

The family wishes to express a sincere thank you to the kind and caring team at Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland, WA. They would also like to express heartfelt gratitude to LaVelle’s church family, the Logan 10th Ward. They truly were some of her dearest friends.

An evening viewing service will be held Friday, October 7, 2022, from 6:00PM to 8:00PM at the Allen-Hall Mortuary located at 420 E. 1800 N. North Logan, 84341

Her funeral service will be in the Logan 10th Ward on Saturday, October 8, 2022, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints located at 792 North 500 East, Logan Utah 84321. A brief viewing will be held from 10:00 am till 11:30 am with the funeral service beginning at 12:00pm.

Interment will take place at the Logan City Cemetery where she will be laid to rest next to her beloved John that same day.

Funeral Services will be livestreamed and can be viewed by clicking under her obituary at allenmortuaries.com