Mary “Ellie” Hotard Holmes passed away peacefully at the age of 92 on Oct. 9, 2011.

Mary was a lifelong resident of Norco and a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She also was a well-respected business owner of River Parishes Oil Company in Norco with her late husband E.L. “Whitey” Holmes for over 50 years.

She was the daughter of the late Agnes Brady and W. P. “Fatty” Hotard, mother of Richard J. Holmes, Leonard J. Holmes, John Coley Holmes, Will H. Holmes, Roger C. Holmes and Matthew J. Holmes and sister of Dorothy Hotard Burks and Warren Hotard.

She was preceded in death by sons Ernest L. Holmes Jr. and Ernest “Putch” Holmes, sister Ruth Hotard and brothers Francis Hotard and Richard Dickie Hotard.

She is also survived by six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011, from 9:30 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Norco. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. at the church, with burial to follow in the St. Charles Borromeo Mausoleum in Destrehan. The family would like to extend special thanks to Sandra Cammon and Sadie Scott and the entire nursing staff who allowed them to keep their mother home through her lengthy illness.