Kern County CA Obituary Project Obituaries.....Holmes Manor, Alcidene August 14 2004 ********************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/obits/obitsca/obitsca.htm ********************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: K Taylor bluewolf@onemain.com August 19, 2004, 3:17 am The Bakersfield Californian Alcidene H. Manor May 18, 1913 August 14, 2004 Services: Thurs., Aug. 19, 9:30 a.m. Graveside services will be held Thursday, August 19th at 9:30 a.m., in Greenlawn Memorial Park, 3700 River Blvd., for Alcidene Holmes Manor, 91, who passed away peacefully on August 14, 2004, at the home of her daughter and son- in-law in Pebble Beach, CA. The Reverend Nancy Rupert McMaster, a family friend, will officiate. Alcidene was a resident of Bakersfield for more than 40 years. She was born on May 18, 1913, to James and Emma Holmes in Tylertown, Mississippi and always remained proud of her Southern heritage. She graduated from Tylertown High School, class of 1930, where she was a cheerleader and frequent speaker at community events. She studied at the Davis School of Expression in New Orleans and taught public speaking and expression for a number of years in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Prior to her marriage, she was a Special New York Representative for Charles of the Ritz Cosmetics, then one of two major cosmetics companies in the country. Following training in New York, she appeared throughout the South presenting beauty seminars. She was swept off her feet by the handsome love of her life, Ralph Manor, who had moved from Ohio to Louisiana as a Sales Representative with Hughes Tool Company. They were married on June 15, 1937 and would celebrate nearly 64 years of marriage before his death in 2001. After sojourns in Texas, where their daughter was born, and Wyoming, the young family came to Bakersfield. Alcidene became a vibrant member of the community and was active in PTA and the Camp Fire Girls. She was a Camp Fire Leader and a volunteer within the organization, and was President of the Kern County Leaders Association. She was proud to receive an award from the Boy Scouts of America as Kern Countys Outstanding Youth Leader of the Year. She was very patriotic and proud of her membership in the DAR, and served as Regent of the NSDAR Bakersfield Chapter for four years. She flew Old Glory everyday from the flagpole at her home. Her roots in the country extended to 1684, when her ancestors immigrated from Ireland and England. She was a longtime member of the First Presbyterian Church. In 1973, after a severe decline in the oil industry, Ralph and Alcidene entered a new phase of their life by opening one of the first 7-Eleven franchises in Bakersfield. Their initial venue was at Bernard & Oswell, and later at Stockdale & California. They received the Franchisee of the Year Award in 1980. Alcidene was the epitome of style, grace and beauty and everyone knew when she entered a room. The warmth felt from her smile and laughter was contagious and she always was charming and gracious to everyone. She treated everyone with respect and listened with equal compassion and understanding to little children and teenagers who brought her their problems, as well as to her contemporaries. She had a zest for life, a sense of wonder, and though always a lady, had a great sense of humor and was full of fun. She was very creative and eager to learn new skills. She never hesitated to tackle a new project and always succeeded in making something beautiful. She loved poetry and song and especially loved to travel. Whether it was a trip to Canada, Hawaii or Europe, or simply a drive to Hart Park to admire the peacocks, she found joy and excitement in whatever she saw. Her greatest delight was raising her daughter and nurturing her grandson. She always was very proud of their accomplishments and loved them dearly. They, in turn, adored her. She was their best friend, their confidante, their guiding light. She loved her son-in-law as though he were her own, and they enjoyed laughing together. He, in turn, welcomed her into his home during her final illness and helped keep laughter in her life. She received her grandsons wife into the family with warmth and love, and was enchanted with her long awaited great-grandson. She was much loved and will be greatly missed. Alcidene was preceded in death by her mother and father; sisters, Elsie, Arie and Mae; and brothers, O.D. and Alva. She is survived by her daughter and her husband, Rod and Emily Parmley of Pebble Beach, CA; her grandson and his wife, Stephen and Marilyn Parmley of Monterey, CA; and her great-grandson, David Allen Parmley of Monterey, CA. Alcidene lived gracefully with Alzheimers disease for eight years, the past four years in Pebble Beach, where she lovingly was cared for by her family. Her love of life never diminished. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Alzheimers Association of Hospice of the Central Coast in Monterey, CA. Greenlawn Mortuary Funeral Directors Additional Comments: Volunteer submission - No relation to deceased. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/kern/obits/gob1270holmesma.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/caobfiles/ File size: 5.4 Kb