He was a member of the class of 1953 however he did not graduate. He married Jacqueline Mau March 24, 1956 in Soda Springs, Idaho. He died May 31, 2000 and was buried in the Cokeville City Cemetery.

Billy Jay Holmes, 65, died Wednesday, May 31, 2000, at his home in Cokeville of natural causes. He was born September 18, 1934 in Cokeville to J.B. Holmes and OdeIla Bird Dayton. He was raised by his grandparents. He graduated from Cokeville High School and lived most all his life in Cokeville. He did spend enough time in Montpelier that he bacame a member of the Montpelier High School class of 1953. He married Jacqueline Mau on March 24, 1956 in Soda Springs. He worked as a miner for Stauffer Chemical Company for 32 years and for the Diamond Ranches for 13 years. He was a member of the LDS church. He was a member of the Cokeville Lions Club, served as cemetery board president and loved hunting, fishing, sports and most of all his family. Billy Jay is survived by his wife, Jacqueline of Cokeville; two sons, Dave Holmes and Jerre Holmes both of Woodruff; one daughter, Paula Andrus of Phoenix, Az.; and 13 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents. Funeral services were held June 3 in the Cokeville LDS Chapel. Burial was in the Cokeville Cemetery.