Laurel Lee Davis Holmes

Our beautiful mother, grandmother, and great grandmother passed away peacefully in her sleep, August 6, 2025. She was born in Delta, Utah on March 14, 1940 to Oliver Lee Davis and Mabel Heybome Corry. She was the baby of the family, coming after her 9 siblings: McKay, Katherine, Shirley, Russell, Ramona (died as an infant), Reed, Barbara, Scott and Mona. She also has 6 half siblings: Thelma, Paul, Arnold Jessie, Mildred and John.

Laurel graduated from Delta High School in 1958 where she was active in the Pep Club and F.H.A. She was on the Yearbook Committee and School Opera properties and costuming committee. She worked at the telephone company as a PBX operator before and after school. She loved her high school years, the 50's. What could be better than poodle skirts, the malt shop, and Elvis! Her best friend was Joyce Miller. They went to all the dances at Billy Van's Dance Hall. At night, you could hear the music all over town. People would sit out on their porches to listen to the music of the day and chat. Laurel had many beaus who would call on her. Much to their dismay, she would only keep company with a few of them. But they kept trying.

After graduation, Laurel and her mother moved to Salt Lake to be closer to her brother McKay. Her father died when she was only 11 and McKay, as the oldest child assumed the responsibility of taking care of the family. She got a job as a PBX operator at the L.D.S. church office building. She was so fast at making the connections, her supervisor was concerned that people were getting mis-connected. So, she would listen in, but found all was well. During lunch, Laurel would walk to Z.C.M.I.'s bakery. She would bring back her supervisor's favorite cookies, which were much appreciated. She enjoyed attending church dances with her friends and giving talks at church.

Laurel enrolled at Michele's Modeling and Finishing school. Upon graduating, she was hired to be a local model for Z.C.M.I., The Salt Lake Tribune, and Makoffs.

Laurel met Wendell while she was donating blood to her brother McKay's wife, Millie (who was also the sister of Wendell). As the story goes, Laurel was feeling faint after donating blood and started to fall when Wendell caught her. The rest is history.

Their marriage was solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple on July 3, 1964. They were blessed with a daughter and a son, Barbara Jean and Matthew Turner. When the children were older and in elementary school, Laurel worked evenings at LaRie's dress shop and Juliette's Lingerie in the Cottonwood Mall. Later, she worked at Executive Model Shop.

Laurel and Wendell built their home and raised their family in Cottonwood Heights, Utah. Laurel loved to entertain family and friends. She would host many fun gatherings at her home. She would cook and bake all day to make sure no one left hungry. She made wonderful lasagna, and when she made her de1icious cinnamon rol1s, the sweet aroma would fill the house.

Laurel was so excited when her grandchildren and great grandchildren came along. They gave her such joy and happiness. She wants them to know how much she loved them.

Laurel loved to get dressed up in beautiful evening gowns, high heels, sparkling jewelry, and go out dancing with Wendell. They went to beautiful dances. They enjoyed going on weekend trips. Sometimes to Wendover for the buffets and sometimes to Delta, so Laurel could visit her old stomping grounds. A few times she would knock on the door of her childhood home and ask to go inside. She was never refused and was warmly invited in.

Laurel was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. During her life, she served in various church callings. She loved her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She had a valiant testimony of the gospel and was not afraid to share it. Once while at the dentist, she shared her testimony with a woman who was investigating the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She told the woman that she would never regret becoming a member. Later that night, Laurel's dentist called. He said the woman told him that she felt something while listening to Laurel's testimony and believed what she had said. Some weeks later, the dentist called Laurel again and told her that the woman did get baptized. Another time, her church ward did a project where church members would type their testimony and paste it inside Books of Mormon to give to the missionaries to hand out. Laurel typed her testimony and pasted it along with her address and family picture inside the book. Months later, she received a letter from China. It was from a young family who went to China to teach school. The letter was from Rachel. She wrote: "Dear Holmes Family, A young man who flew with us on the same plane over the pacific, gave us a book with your name in it. So, I thought I would write to you. He and other young people were on  their way to Korea. My husband, I, and our 16 month old daughter were on our way to China, where we are English teachers". Rachel is of a different faith but shared her testimony of Jesus Christ. Laurel wrote back to her and told her to pray about it and ask the Lord if it were true. She never heard back from her but at least a seed was planted.

Laurel loved her husband, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren dearly. She loved to read the scriptures and books about the gospel. She was overjoyed when she was able to have some of her siblings sealed to her parents. She enjoyed working on family history, dining out, See's candy, talking with her brother, Scott, writing poetry, drawing cute cartoons on the computer, and her 1991 Chrysler New Yorker, "Lizzy" (she said the cars of today don't have an elegant look).

She was preceded in death by her husband, Wendell, her parents, and 8 siblings. She is survived by her brother, Scott Davis. Children: Barbara, Matthew and his wife, Susan. Grandchildren: Ashley Nicole & Brian Bolnick, Samantha Michelle & J.D. Davenport. Great grandchildren: Oliver Jonathon Bolnick, Adeline Grace Bolnick, Eleanor Jane Bolnick, Isla Nicole Bolnick, John Turner Davenport, Ava Michelle Davenport, and many nephews and nieces. She will be greatly missed.

A private family viewing will be held on Friday, August 22nd from 2:00 to 2:30 PM and a visitation for family and friends from 2:30 to 3:00 PM at Memorial Mountain View Mortuary & Cemetery located at 3115 East 7800 South followed by a graveside service at 3:00 PM.