Peggy Holmes Vannoy

A fifty-five year resident of Gulf Breeze, Peggy was born to Ernest Douglas "Dick" Holmes and Emma Kate McGriff Holmes in Apalachicola, FL on April 25, 1928. Peggy spent formative years in East Pensacola attending Clubbs School and graduating from Pensacola High School in 1946. She attended Florida State University (Go 'Noles). While on summer break in Pensacola, she and friends attended an USO dance at NAS Pensacola where she met a handsome young red-headed naval aviator, Ensign Rex J. Vannoy, who captured her heart and became her husband on July 2, 1948. The couple were married for more than 50 years and celebrated their Golden Anniversary at the very same Officers Club where they first met. It's hard to describe Peggy's life without Rex, so here goes.

Peggy and Rex had four children and traveled extensively throughout the US during their 27-year career in the US Navy in the obligatory family station wagon. Piled to the brim with kids and luggage, the Vannoy clan travelled from coast to coast from Florida to New Jersey to California to Washington to New Mexico and even to Hawaii, always returning to Pensacola for the summer. Always one to "smell the roses along the road less traveled", Peggy made sure her kids experienced the splendor and beauty of the Grand Canyon, Carlsbad Caverns, Sequoia National Park, Mt. Rainier, Yellowstone Park, Grand Tetons, as well as Waimea Bay when the surf was high, and even trekking across Kilauea Volcano. They even made time to see the World's Largest Ball of Tin Foil in Podunk, Idaho.

Peggy and Rex retired in Gulf Breeze in 1971 after a final tour in Kingsville, Texas where Peggy earned her teaching degree at Texas A&I University (Go Javelinas). Both Peggy & Rex enjoyed second careers as exemplary, dedicated teachers. Peggy taught 5th grade at Gulf Breeze Elementary School for twenty years earning a Teacher of the Year award for 1985-1986. She was very proud of her hundreds of students who grew up to be leaders in Gulf Breeze and beyond. Not one to sit on her laurels, Peggy volunteered at the Gulf Breeze Library, participated as an active member of Delta Kappa Gamma teachers sorority and supported Rex's dedication to Gulf Breeze Lions Club and Little League activities.

As early members of Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church, Peggy is remembered for her years of humble dedication to service from KP duty on Wednesday Night Supper, vacation bible school, assisting on Sunday with the Rainbow/Joy class, recording Monday morning attendance review and cleaning the pews on Thursday afternoon – ever present, yet in the background quietly serving.

Peggy loved the Gulf Breeze lifestyle including art shows in Seville Square, beachcombing and family gatherings. Surrounded here, Peggy and her sister Betty Holmes Radcliffe, whose growing clan live in nearby Oriole Beach. Peggy was especially close to her Radcliffe nephews and nieces David (Dottie) Radcliffe, Donald (Debbie) Radcliffe and Susan Radcliffe Kladitis of Gulf Breeze. She never missed the annual performance of the Blue Angels and loved the unmistakable sound of the Blues thundering over Gulf Breeze. Peggy and Rex's beach cottage, aptly named "The Laffin' Place", was the hub for joy-filled gatherings of family and friends each summer for decades. She loved to relax, read, or lay at the end of the pier on a dark night to observe the beauty of the Milky Way. Peggy was famous for "picking it home", effortlessly floating in the Gulf, and "Soaking in the Sound" more than anything else. She could also play a mean hand of Tripoli, dominoes and taught generations of grands and great grandchildren the art of winning at RummiKub.

Peggy was predeceased in death by her parents, Ernest Douglas "Dick" Holmes of Dothan Alabama, Emma Kate McGriff Holmes of Headland, Alabama, her sister, Betty Holmes Radcliffe of Gulf Breeze, and her beloved husband, LCDR Rex J. Vannoy.

She is survived by her children: Elise Vannoy Lynch of Gulf Breeze; Douglas (Laura) Vannoy of The Woodlands, Texas; Clifford (Linda Powell) Vannoy of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Laurie Kay Vannoy (Bill) Keebler of Lakeland, Florida. She had seven grandchildren, eighteen great grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren, and a myriad of nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life service and reception will be held on Saturday, February 28 at Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church at 11:00 AM. Because she touched the lives of so many, all who were the beneficiaries of her wonderful life and talents are invited. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift in her honor to the Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church Music Ministry or Children's Place daycare, the Gulf Breeze Public Library or Tunnel to Towers Organization providing catastrophically injured and homeless veterans with homes. May God give her peace and joy with this final "transfer".