Martin J. "Popeye" Holmes

January 29, 1932 - September 19, 2013

Martin J. "Popeye" Holmes, 81, of Taylor Landing, died Thursday, September 19, 2013, at Mid-Jefferson Extended Care Hospital in Nederland. Born January 29, 1932, in Banks, Alabama, he was the son of Mary Renfroe Holmes and Ronzo Holmes. A graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School and a United States Army Veteran, he served during the Korean War in Company C, 73rd Tank Battalion. He was a member and past Commander of the American Legion Post 7, member of American Legion Post 493, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Texas Justice of the Peace & Constable Assoc., Texas Peace Officer Assoc., Jefferson County Constable Assoc., the Society of the Honor Guard-Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the Port Acres Knights of Columbus. His Law Enforcement career that spanned over 57 years included Port Arthur Police Dept, Griffing Park Police Dept., Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Texas Alcohol & Beverage Commission, Groves Police Dept, Bridge City Police Dept, Orange County Sheriff's Office, and was serving as the Chief Deputy Constable under Constable Eddie Collins Pct 8. He was the oldest active certified and longest serving Peace Officer in the State of Texas. In 2011, he was chosen to receive the Award of Excellence from the East Texas Peace Officers' Association. He was also the owner of Holmes Ambulance Service in the late 1970's. He is preceded in death by his parents, infant daughter Mary Cheryl Holmes, and sister Gwendolyn Holmes Roy. He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Patricia Ellis Holmes of Taylor Landing; daughters, Theresa France and husband, Will, of Lumberton; Pamela O'Grady and husband, Mark, of Hamshire; Vanessa Holmes of Taylor Landing; sons, Mark Holmes and wife, Kellie, of Port Neches; Martin "Butch" Holmes and wife, Crystal, of Lumberton; Cody Holmes of Beaumont; grandsons, Jarrod Holmes, Josh Holmes, Wesley Holmes, Jake Holmes, Heath Holmes, and Nick Holmes; granddaughters, Ginny France, Heather France, Brittany Holmes, Shaunica Jayson, Katie Holmes, and Heagan Holmes; great-grandsons, M. J. Holmes, Max Jayson and Sterling Holmes; sisters, Lenora Fawcett of Groves; and Laverne Bunting of Fayetteville, Ark. and numerous nieces and nephews. A gathering of Chief Deputy Holmes' family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 26, 2013 at Clayton-Thompson Funeral Home, 5200 39th St., Groves; on Friday, September 27, 2013, a Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. at St. James Church, 3503 Gulfway Dr., Port Arthur; a Military burial at Greenlawn Memorial Park will follow. Pallbearers will be Deputy Constables of Pct 8; honorary pallbearers will be his grandsons. Memorial contributions may be made to Lamar State College Port Arthur- Scholarship Fund, P. O. Box 310, Port Arthur, TX 77641-0310.