Mark Christopher Holmes

Mark Christopher Holmes left this world to spend eternity with his Jesus on May 12, 2020 after his incredibly courageous 16-month battle with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. He was surrounded by the love-of-his-life wife Jenny, parents Dan and Bev Holmes, and brother Scott Holmes. He was 37 years old.

    Mark was born at the U.S. Air Force Academy hospital in Colorado Springs, CO on December 21, 1982. His family moved to Niceville when he was only four years old where he attended kindergarten at Rocky Bayou Christian School, Bluewater Elementary School, Ruckel Middle School, and Niceville High School (NHS). Growing up, Mark loved the beach, a variety of sports, and kayaking the Nantahala River in North Carolina. At NHS he set the school record in the pole vault, which lasted 18 years, and won Niceville’s first state championship in the sport in 2000. He won the most outstanding male athlete award upon graduation from NHS in 2001. He continued his athletic career at Samford University in Birmingham on a partial track and field scholarship, and there met Jenny Wottle, his future wife. Mark graduated from Samford in 2006 after having received a two-year Air Force ROTC scholarship, and upon graduation, was commissioned a 2^nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force by his dad, AF Lt. Col. (Retired) Dan Holmes.

   Mark’s first duty assignment was at Malmstrom AFB, MT as a Missile Launch Officer in the Minuteman III weapon system, where he also completed his MBA degree. After Jenny completed nursing school, Jenny and Mark married in 2008. Together they loved hiking, mountain biking, snowmobiling, skiing and snowboarding in Big Sky Country. Their first daughter, Madison Grace, was born in Great Falls in 2011. Mark’s next duty station was at Schriever AFB in Colorado Springs in what was then AF Space Command. His son William David was born in 2013, and his second daughter, Anna Katherine, was born in 2017. When he passed, Mark was a Major in the AF Reserves and a Contracting Specialist at the USAF Academy Contracting Office.

   Mark leaves behind his loving wife of 11 years Jennifer Wottle Holmes, his three children Maddie, 8, Will, 6, and Anna, 2, his parents Dan and Bev Holmes of Niceville, his brother Scott and wife Lauren of Aldie, VA, his in-laws Dave and Jan Wottle of Germantown, TN, brothers-in-law Scott Wottle and wife Lacey of Frisco, TX, Mike Wottle and wife Sharon of Fort Mill, SC and numerous nephews and nieces.

   Mark was gentle, soft spoken (but a crazy sense of humor), the best father ever, a loyal friend, and an incredible husband. He was a family man first and loved being with his kids. He would come home from work and jump right in with helping around the house. He was proud and honored to be so active in his kids’ lives. Not only his family but friends far and wide will miss him forever.

There have not been any services scheduled at this time. The family is not receiving flowers but you may make a donation to a charity of your choice.      

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mark Christopher Holmes, please visit our floral store.