Edith Marie 'Edie' Juarez Holmes, 51

Edith Marie "Edie" Juarez Holmes, 51, passed away peacefully Aug. 7, 2009, surrounded by her family at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula. Edie was born May 19, 1958, to Angelo and Melba (Azure) Juarez in Butte.

Edie graduated from Butte High School in 1976; shortly after, she married her best friend and lifelong partner, Joe Holmes. Over the years they were blessed with three children.

Edie owned and operated several beauty shops and worked her way to becoming a nurse at Saint James Hospital.

She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, spending time outdoors, gardening, playing nickels, drinking a mojito, and spending time with her family and friends.

Edie and her family moved to Kalispell in December of 1996 where she worked at Mulligan's gas station and Smith's grocery store until moving back to Butte last year. She was employed at Wal-Mart at the time of her death.

Edie was preceded in death by her son, Jim Holmes; father, Angelo Juarez; and numerous grandparents.

She is survived by her husband, Joe Holmes; daughters, Bluette and Rocky, and Melba; her daughter-in-law, Angie Holmes; her mother, Melba Juarez; grandchildren, Michael and Sharayha Holmes, and Elizabeth and Victoria Lewis; brothers, Frank and Cindy Juarez, Fred and Monica Juarez, Angelo Junior and Romana, and Joey Juarez; soul sister, Lisa, and Mike Mantz; lifelong friend, Kathy Sims; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

"You can shed tears that she is gone, or you can smile because she has lived. You can close your eyes and pray that she'll come back, or you can open your eyes and see all she has left. Your heart can be empty because you can't see her, or you can be full of the love you shared. You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday, or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday. You can remember her only that she is gone, or you can cherish her memory and let it live on. You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back or you can do what she would want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on."

Friends are asked to join the family between the hours of 3 to 5 p.m. today, Aug. 9, in the Duggan Dolan Mortuary Chapel. Cremation will follow, with funeral services to be conducted at 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 10, in the mortuary chapel. There will be a further celebration of Edie's life at the McQueen Club immediately following services.

In lieu of flowers, donations to assist with final expenses are greatly appreciated and may be sent to Joe Holmes, 1241 Farrell St., Butte, MT 59701.