Laura Sue Holmes Watkins of Garland passed from this life at her daughter and son-in-law’s home in Burleson to her Heavenly Home February 20. Sue was born in Dallas July 30, 1930, to Fred Holmes and Willie Kate Holford Holmes. Sue was the granddaughter of Laura May Scott Holford and William Asa Holford, longtime editor and publisher of the Garland Daily News.
Sue grew up in Garland and early in life her family belonged to First United Methodist Church Garland (FUMC) where she became involved in the youth group, later raising her children in the same church, periodically dedicating her time to teaching Sunday School.
She was a member of the Garland High School class of 1947 where she was editor-in-chief of the 1947 Owl’s Nest yearbook, class vice president, student council secretary, class favorite and member of the National Honor Society and the first group of Dashing Debs, among other accolades.
After the passing of her mom in 1947, Sue left Garland to attend college in Lubbock at Texas Tech where she was vice president of the Press Club and vice president of Theta Sigma Phi. Along with her brother Bill Holmes, she was also a member of Kappa Alpha Mu and was in Who’s Who Among American Colleges and Universities. She graduated with a BA in Journalism. After a short tenure as a reporter for the Snyder Daily News, an early Harte-Hanks newspaper, Sue returned to Garland to work on the Garland Daily News and at Kraft Foods where she met the love of her life, Harley Dobe Watkins.
They were married January 30, 1956, and had three children, Maury Matthew, Margaret Alison (Meg) & Mindy Ruth Watkins. Sue was with the Garland Daily News writing the Serendipity, obits, weddings, became woman’s editor, later created Our Town columns until the Garland Daily News was sold to the Dallas Morning News, where she continued her column until she retired at the young age of 85.
Sue was very involved in all things in Garland, beginning with the Willie Kate Holmes preschool mothers’ club her mother organized. She later became involved in PTA, cultural arts clubs, Garland Woman’s Study Club, book clubs, rubber stamp club and more. She was on the board of the Garland Summer Musicals, religiously attending performances.
Sue had become an avid bird-watcher, periodically traveling the U.S. with her brother Bill and “Sister Jean“. She also delighted in several elder hostel trips leaving her with the greatest memories.
She had a profound love for books and acquired a vast collection, to say the least. She believed reading was of utmost importance in education. She raised her children in libraries and museums, taking every opportunity to expose them to history and fine arts. She enjoyed teaching underprivileged children to read at The ROC (ReCreation Outreach Center) in Garland. She loved being part of the local scene, receiving numerous awards for her contribution to the Garland community, namely The Lifetime Achievement Award by Garland’s Cultural Arts Commission in 2015.
Sue was humble, always deferring her recognition to others. Sue also wrote about her clinical depression diagnosis in an effort to educate and destigmatize mental illness. Her last two years of declining health were spent in Burleson, a town she grew to love. She idolized family, enjoying her great-granddaughters Hallie and Bonnie with whom she formed a strong bond. She cherished every moment and admitted they made moving away from her hometown well worthwhile.
She is preceded in death by her parents; son Maury of Garland; brother, Bill Holmes of Garland; niece, Willow Holmes of Garland; and ex-husband Harley of Quinlan. She is survived by her daughter, Meg and husband Larry Walls of Quinlan; grandchild Amber and great-granddaughters Jaselyn and Alaska, Abbi and great-grandson Ryder; grandchildren, Anthony, Mike, Ashley, Mac and Auggie; daughter, Mindy and husband Bryan of Burleson, granddaughters Jalyn Jacobson, (and great-granddaughters Hallie and Bonnie Hampton) of Burleson; Meagan Duffee-Yates, and husband Eric Yates of Nevada, MO and Jenna Duffee of Dallas; grandson Joel Jacobson of Burleson; sister-in-law, Jean Holmes of Garland; niece, Glynn Rasor; great-nieces, Lauren, Kelsey (great-nephew Ryder) and Jocelyn Rasor; nephew, Noel Holmes and wife Noel; great-nephews, Zach and Will as well as other cousins, extended family and friends who will miss her greatly.
A firm believer in medicine, Sue donated her body to science at the University of Texas Southwestern. A memorial service is planned (with reception following) at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 19, 2022, at FUMC Garland, 801 West Avenue B, Garland 75040. In lieu of flowers, you may donate to FUMC Garland or UTSW Office of Development P.O. Box 910888 Dallas, Texas 75391-0888.