Emily Ann (Holmes) Dawson

Emily Ann Holmes was born on May 15, 1937, to Stephen Coy Holmes and Thelma V. (Edmondson) Holmes in Wheaton, Mo. She was the eldest of two children. She attended Wheaton High School and was active in Band, Pep Club, school plays and her church youth group. She graduated as Valedictorian of the Class of 1955 and enrolled at Southwest Baptist College (now Southwest Baptist University) in Bolivar, Mo. She graduated with her Associate of Arts degree in 1957 and that fall moved to Kansas City and worked at Commerce Bank and Trust. The country girl began her big city life. About a year later, a mutual friend set her up on a blind date with Jerry Dawson and the pair were married by her father on October 21, 1961, at Prosperity Baptist Church in Rocky Comfort, Mo.

Emily continued at Commerce Bank until the birth of their first daughter, Elizabeth Ann (Beth), and then embraced motherhood and homemaking. Emily and Jerry began a forty-four-year residence in the Roanoke neighborhood of Kansas City, Mo., prior to the birth of their second daughter, Pamela Lea (Pam), who was born three years after Beth. After twelve years as a homemaker and volunteering at her daughters’ elementary schools, Emily returned to work, initially part time, as the office manager at Exhibit Associates, Inc. Her career there spanned twenty-three years until she retired at age 65. Jerry and Emily joined Second Presbyterian Church in 2003 and were active members. In her retirement years, Emily regularly volunteered to answer the church’s phones, served on the Marthas’ Hospitality Committee, and helped with Vacation Bible School.

Emily will be missed for her welcoming smile, kind heart, calm reserve and the annual plethora of Christmas cookies that she made for family and friends. A good and faithful servant, she gave freely of her time and talents. She left a legacy of kindness and generosity to all who knew her.

Emily is preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Stephen John Holmes. Survivors include her husband, Jerry, and daughters, Beth Dawson and Pam Dawson, all of Kansas City, Mo.; cousins, Catherine Thompson, Claremont, Ca., Jerry Harter (Cathy), Wheaton, Mo., Sandra Tinsley (Morris), Springfield, Mo., and Edna Mae Ayers (Lewis), Springfield, Mo.; in-laws, Bruce Dawson (Shirley), West Plains, Mo.; nephews and niece, Greg Holmes (Vicki) and Doug Holmes (Tammy), all of Wheaton, Mo., Deanna Gamble, Russellville, Ark., James Dawson (Cassie), Stafford, Va., and David Dawson (Janene), Russellville, Ark.; several great nieces and nephews, and a “daughter”, Leslie Schmitz (Mark), whose daughters, Mikayla and Catie, were the “grandchildren” she always hoped for.

Many thanks to Bishop Spencer Place staff and St. Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City for their care, particularly during the pandemic. A livestreamed service will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 16, 2020 at McGilley Midtown Chapel. The link to watch the service is at facebook.com/mcgilley memorial chapel-midtown. Private interment will follow in Mt. Washington Cemetery, Independence, Mo. A memorial service/celebration of life will be held once it is safe to gather to honor Emily’s life and savor her cherished cookie recipes. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to Second Presbyterian Church or the American Heart Association.