Allan Lynn Holmes

Allan Lynn Holmes passed peacefully on April 17, 2026, in Little Rock, Arkansas at the age of 83 years old. Born on June 9, 1942, to Elmer and Oleta Holmes, he grew up on a farm on Chickalah Mountain in Yell County, Arkansas. His twin sisters, Sharon and Sheila Holmes, were born into their family in 1953 and he became their beloved “Tookie.” Their father passed away just years later, when Allan was fifteen years old.

Allan graduated as valedictorian of Belleville High School in 1960, where he was President of both the Belleville Chapters of the 4-H Club and Future Farmers of America, as well as a full-time bus driver. He went on to attend Arkansas Tech. at Russellville, where he studied pre-engineering for two years. Allan continued to the University of Arkansas, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and later earned a Master of Science in Engineering.

He began his Engineering career with the United States Army Corps. of Engineers and shortly after went to work for the Arkansas Highway Department in 1961, later the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT). He served ARDOT as Division Assistant in Materials, Materials Area Engineer, Assistant Division Head in Construction, Staff Construction Engineer, District 4 Engineer, State Maintenance Engineer, and State Construction Engineer, and lastly, Assistant Chief Engineer of Operations.

During his tenure at ARDOT, Allan met and courted Shirley Shelton of the Right of Way Division. While they grew up merely four miles apart, they met only through friends and coworkers at ARDOT. They married in a small ceremony in 1993, with only her mother present, Shirley’s son presiding, his wife as a witness, and attendants Gary and Jackie Childers. Shortly thereafter, they traveled to Omaha, Nebraska to celebrate with family and friends, continuing to travel to 22 states throughout their marriage.

Allan retired from ARDOT after 46 years and was not ready to end his career. He went on to work at Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism for 15 years as an Engineer, retiring in 2023. He dedicated 57 total years of service to this great State of Arkansas. He believed in the beauty of its land and the greatness of its people, treasuring the friendships he made at both ARDOT, the Department of Parks & Tourism, and in his travels around the state.

While Allan was a highly motivated Engineer during the week, he was a rancher at his beloved farm on Chickalah Mountain on Saturdays, a Sunday School teacher at Immanuel Baptist Church on Sundays, and a proud Grandad every day of the week.

Allan was preceded in death by his father, Elmer Holmes, his mother, Oleta Holmes Hale, and his sister, Sharon Holmes. He is survived by his Sweetheart, Shirley Holmes, and his sister, Sheila Holmes. His legacy continues through his son, Dr. Marlon Holmes, D.D.P. (Dr. Nina Holmes, D.D.P.), and children he loved as his own, Valerie Goacher (Trey) and Rev. Rocky Shelton (Brenda). He has six grandchildren, Samuel Holmes (Elizabeth), Scott Holmes (Peyton), Hillary Boshers, Sara Brooks (Jake), Shandi Summers (Jon), and Mandi Wiley (Blake). He also has eight, ninth to come, great-grandchildren who have brought him great joy in his later years (Bonnie Jo, Valley Dawn, Gabriel, Margot, Graham, Grayson, Asher, Titus, and soon Michael).

Allan Holmes is remembered as a man of few words and of stoic demeanor, as a man of God and a family man, as a farmer and a rancher, as an Engineer and a servant of the great state of Arkansas. Above all, he is remembered as someone who loved and was loved in return.