Doris June Holeman

Doris June (Barger) Holeman, 87, passed away Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at Richmond Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Richmond, KS. Funeral services will be held at 10am, Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at Dengel & Sons Mortuary. Visitation will be from 5pm to 7pm, Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at the mortuary. Doris was an athlete and later in life really enjoyed watching sports on TV. We would like to invite everyone to wear Chiefs, Royals or KU apparel in her memory.

A small graveside service will be held at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, west of Centropolis following the service on 10/15/2025.

Doris was born Saturday, June 25, 1938 in the community of Badger Lee, Oklahoma, the daughter of Barney Tralford and Irene Gertrude (Diffee) Barger. Growing up one of six children and the only daughter, Doris was an outdoors person who deeply loved her family. In 1956 she graduated from Sallisaw High School and moved to Kansas City for work. Doris was united in marriage with Paul Holeman October 12, 1956, in Kansas City, Kansas. She lived in Kansas City, Kansas from 1956 to 1967 moving to Shawnee, where they resided for 20 years raising their family. Doris and Paul enjoyed many wonderful years on Grand Lake in Grove, Oklahoma.

In 1987, Doris and Paul moved to Franklin County where she resided until her death. Survivors include her two children; Debi Milton and husband Randy Milton of Ottawa, and Paula Holeman and partner Rick Reding of Eudora; two siblings, Don Barger, Sallisaw, OK, and Jerry Barger and wife Rose Barger, Shawnee; seven grandchildren, Dave Tarpy, Brook Milton, Elisha Smith, Trevor Fries, Tim Smith, Hannah Milton and Kendal Fries; 15 great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Doris was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Holeman, parents Barney and Irene Barger, brothers Eddie Barger, Freddie Barger and Joe Barger.

Doris was employed as an office manager for most of her working career. She was very detail oriented keeping precise books and records prior to the computer era. She was competitive and athletic; winning a foot race with Debi in the late 70’s. She loved her family with all her heart. She had a way about her of wanting to understand people and situations to find the way she could help in all situations. She enjoyed planting and tending to her beautiful flower garden.

Doris enjoyed many years of traveling to South Padre, Branson and many other destinations. She enjoyed attending her children and grandchildren’s sporting events.

She adopted a mantra later in life that served her well; “We adjust to what we must.”

We want to acknowledge Elisha Smith, Doris’ Granddaughter, for her role in facilitating and providing the best care possible in her later years. Our hearts are full with gratitude that Doris was cared for by family and the staff that became family along the journey.

We are so very grateful to Richmond Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center for providing the highest quality of care for our loved one and loving her. She was called Grandma by the staff which made her and all of us extremely happy.

The family suggests memorial contributions to Richmond Healthcare Activity Fund ℅ Dengel & Son Mortuary, 234 S Hickory, Ottawa, KS 66067.

To share your memories of Doris or to send a special condolence message to her family, please visit the guestbook below.