‘Her life’s work went into this house and it killed her’: Son of woman killed in tornado speaks to First Alert 4

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - Five families are mourning tonight after losing loved ones in Friday’s storm. On Sunday, First Alert 4 is learning more about one of the victims.

Seventy-year-old Delois Holmes was a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She died on Friday in the storms that swept through North City. Her family tells First Alert Four that this loss is unimaginable, down to the way it happened. The storm took away the center of this family.

Sitting on Cote Brilliante Ave in North City is the home of Holmes, a mother of five boys, a grandmother of nine, and a great-grandmother. On Sunday, her family and friends sit outside the now-damaged home talking, laughing, and eating, but it’s what they did at the home every Sunday.

“On Sunday, we all got to experience what that was like, and not just us, her immediate family, all of her family and friends. They would come by just to see her, hear her... just to feel welcomed by her,” said Donnie Holmes, her son.

This Sunday looked very different. Donnie sits in his mother’s bedroom. The walls are painted her favorite color, purple. One of the walls is missing behind him. He sat just feet away from where his mother lost her life trying to seek shelter from the storm.

“Her life’s work went into this house... and it killed her,” said Holmes.

Donnie says they found his mother next to the steps of her basement. They believe she was on her way downstairs when she was killed.

“We covered her up, and we stayed out there waiting for emergency services who couldn’t even find a path to us because of all the damage. We sat out here for hours,” said Holmes.

Now, the family is left mourning the matriarch of their family.

The family is raising money for the clean-up of the home, hoping to tear it down and build something in Delois Holmes’ honor, but also to help the community that she loved so much.

The link to donate can be found here.

Copyright 2025 KMOV. All rights reserved.