Doris Kneisly Holmes

DORIS (SHEDD) KNEISLY HOLMES, 88, of Tomball, Texas, formerly of Bellville, passed away Sunday morning, July 21, 2024, in Magnolia, Texas.

She was born December 5, 1935, in Taft, Texas, the daughter of Walter Leonard and Susie Viola (O’Neal) Shedd. She grew up and attended school in Taft, Texas.  She was united in marriage to Walter Albert Kneisly on October 23, 1953, at the Sodville Baptist Church in Taft. She and Walter moved to Portland, Texas where they welcomed two daughters and made their home for 23 years before Walter’s job moved them to Columbus, Texas in 1976.  In 1980 in preparation for retirement, they moved to Bellville, Texas.  In January 1992, he preceded her in death.

In 1997, Doris was united in marriage to Harold Lee Holmes, at the Church of Christ, Bellville.  They were blessed to have 17 happy years together.  Harold was such a jokester and Doris soon became famous around the house for saying, “I don’t know about that story”.  She enjoyed living in this small country town, working countless hours in her yard tending to her beautiful roses and flowers. Her efforts paid off and she was so proud to receive the “Bellville Yard of the Month” award in May 2005.  Throughout her life, she loved to cook, but baking was what she enjoyed the most.  Always ready to share a cake, pie, banana bread, or her delicious yeast rolls with a friend or a church, youth, or volunteer event.  Her pride and joy were her two grandsons, Daniel and Dylan.  She enjoyed every time they could be together, especially their overnight stays when she had quality alone time with them.  Upon Harold’s death, she moved to Tomball to be closer to her family.

Throughout her life, you could always hear her singing or humming a song as she worked or sat in her home or yard.  In her final years, she lovingly became known as “The Singing Lady” and in her final hours, she was humming her favorite hymns.

She is survived by her daughters: Donna Sue (Kneisly) Moran and husband, Daniel, of Bryan, and Rhonda Lynette (Kneisly) Hepner and husband, Michael, of Tomball; Grandchildren: Daniel Timothy Moran, II, and wife, Samantha, of Yelm, WA, and Dylan Walter Richard Moran of Bryan; Great Grandchildren: Zoey Dehlia Moran and Jaxon Adrian Moran of Yelm, WA;  sister: Maxine Smith of Harlingen; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Walter A. Kneisly (38 years), second husband Harold Lee Holmes, Jr. (17 years), sister, Edmonia O. Lightfoot, brother, Ronald Jack (Ronnie) Shedd and infant brother William Eldridge Shedd.