Mitchell Layne Holmes age 65 of Gulf Breeze, Florida passed away suddenly on August 6, 2026 after the onset of multiple issues relating to a diagnosis of cancer.

Mitch was born in Kinsley, Kansas on December 10, 1960. After a stint in the patient care field in Kansas City, together with his surviving partner Paul Zagortz, they moved from their homes in Kansas into a new house in Gulf Breeze in 2010.

Mitch was preceded in death by his father Ronald Holmes in 2001 and his mother Patsy Holmes in 2022. He provided loving care for her after she moved into his home in 2019 from her own home in Kiowa, Kansas.

In addition to Paul, Mitchell leaves behind his brother Daniel Holmes and his wife Janie, his sister Krista Hilton and her husband Steve, his sister Valerie Bryant, and his aunt Vicky Swanson.

Mitch was an avid gardener and a definite animal lover. He especially loved his pug Pearl and cat Jingles, but he enjoyed taking care of everything from birds to stray cats to squirrels as he sat on his screened in porch enjoying the outdoors. His pride and joy were the beautiful flowers and plants in his backyard garden and the meticulous care he took in the landscaping and the bald cypress & orange trees in the front yard. He got a special kick out of it when neighbors would comment on how nice his yard always looked.