Barry Lynn Holmes passed from this life to continue his life with God on January 28, 2024 following a long illness.

He was 77 years old.

Barry was born in rural Parker County on Nov. 28, 1946 to Charlie R. Holmes and Clara Means Holmes and grew up in and around Mineral Wells. Barry graduated from Mineral Wells High School, received a bachelor’s degree from North Texas State University and a Master of Divinity from TCU Brite Divinity School. He was married to Carol Pennington Holmes in 1967 and later to Margie Peters Holmes in 1984.

Barry spent over 50 years serving as a United Methodist pastor in the Central Texas Conference and had a passion for preaching and for working in small churches. He was blessed with many wonderful church families over the years and enjoyed church league softball, youth mission trips, church camp, Walk to Emmaus events, and gospel music. Singing was his most loved part of worship, and every song was his favorite.

Barry was bi-vocational much of his life and was able to retire from teaching in the vocational department of Mineral Wells HS. He taught welding and machine work, woodworking, and computer maintenance and enjoyed taking students to district and state contests. Barry also loved helping and working with other teachers and being part of the school family.

He used his construction skills to build several homes, build gates and hinges, be the construction coordinator on over 15 youth mission trips, and work on local ramp and remodeling projects. Barry loved to help people, whether it was fixing something, building something, helping people move, or just visiting with people. He always had some jokes and smiles to share.

Barry was very involved in every community he lived in and was always a part of the local volunteer fire department. He also was a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Kiwanis Club, the Lions Club, and proudly served on the school board of Garner ISD. He cooked brisket and fried fish for nearly every church or organization he was a part of. One of the things he will be most remembered for is playing Santa Claus in the community for decades, which was a role he was made for. He would be recognized as Santa the year round and truly loved it.

In his spare time, he enjoyed fishing with family members and friends, watching the Texas Rangers, and has built black powder guns and a cannon, and dabbled in knife-making. He just plain loved people and made of life of serving others.

Barry is survived by his wife Margie, daughters Melinda Holmes and Sheila Unwin, daughter-in-law Angie Holmes, grandsons John Unwin and Cayden Holmes, brother Walter and wife Nancy Holmes, uncles Sam and wife Jeanette Means and Rusty and wife Roselyn Means, many cousins, nieces, and nephews, and a family of friends. He was preceded in death by parents Charlie and Clara Holmes and son Joshua Holmes.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 3, at 11 a.m. at Central Methodist Church with visitation for an hour before the service.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating a memorial gift to local charities such as Backpack Buddies, the Salvation Army, or the Mineral Wells VFD Auxiliary.