Bobby Ray Hollis

Bobby Ray Hollis was born April 19, 1942, in West Point, Tennessee, and died at the age of 81 on March 7, 2024, at his home.

He was preceded in death by his father, William Thomas Hollis, Sr., and mother, Ada Blanche Henson Hollis, three brothers, William Thomas Hollis, Jr., James Kenneth Hollis and Carl Richard Hollis. A stepson, Brian Keith Reynolds, and a son-in-law, Bruce Gregory Riches.

Bobby is survived by his brother, Ronnie Chester Hollis, two sisters, Ollie Elizabeth Dyer, and Bonnie Louise Brown, his daughter, Amanda Faith Riches Markin and her husband, Michael Shane Markin. Grandchildren, Gregory Robert Riches (Stephanie), Ryan Allen Riches, James Anthony Deel, Corey Matthew Riches (McKenzie Sanchez), Faith Elizabeth Riches, Josiah Nathaniel Markin, Anna Grace Markin, and Eliya Isabella Markin. A great grandchild and his namesake, Paisley Rae Riches, and bonus grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews.

Bobby worked as a chemical mixer for over 30 years with Eppert Oil Company which later became D.A. Stuart; he was affectionately called “the Colonel” at his job. Bobby also served in the Army during the Vietnam War and was stationed in Germany. He received his GED from the Army.

Bobby loved his parents. He lost his father too early in his life, he loved and took care of his sweet mother. He was a good son. Bobby was blessed with many siblings. He loved them very much and the children who came from their marriages.

Bobby was married to Fannie Franklin Reynolds Hollis. They had 47 years of marriage together. They attended Evangelist Baptist Church in Melvindale, Michigan together as members and later on went to church at Ferndale Free Methodist Church with their daughter and some of the grandchildren. They lived in Hazel Park, Michigan, when Fannie passed away in 2020 from kidney failure. They had two children, Brian and Amanda. Bobby later moved to Detroit and then Sandy Hook, Kentucky, with Michael and Amanda and their children.

Bobby was a good provider. He was a kind, gentle spirited man, and was loved by all. Bobby was blessed with his grandchildren and loved each one of them. He took time to show he cared and spent many hours doing things others enjoyed just to be with them. He was known for his garden and sharing that love with others. He also loved his Bluegrass music, which made us laugh and grew our love for it too. He enjoyed watching sports, especially baseball. He was known for his grilling and cooking for others. Many times we had wonderful barbeques, thanks to him.

To my sweet father, how I loved you. Truly you were one of my favorite people. Thank you for every moment, the trips together and the time you spent with us all. Whether it was just simple errands, spending time with grandchildren or traveling to our beloved Kentucky and Tennessee, you did it all. We shared a love together for Kentucky, thank you, you are a big part of why I am in Kentucky today. Your love was great, thank you for making me feel so cherished, you are a big part of why I am on this walk with Jesus, today. I thank God for you being my Dad, He provides all. Thank you for being my children’s wonderful Papa.

A celebration of life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at Calvary Hill Church of God, 1090 East Gaines Street, Lawrenceburg, TN 38464. Food provided. Burial will follow the church service at Fairview Cemetery, 277 Beartown Road, Loretto, TN 38469.

Love offerings, in lieu of flowers, may be sent to his daughter.

Gospel

We were put on this earth with a purpose, to serve our Creator, God. The time spent here is meant for us to do His work, telling others of His son, Jesus Christ. We can see there is a God who created everything from the stars in the sky, to a tiny baby in the womb, and all of this earth and animals He created.

God is a holy God, a jealous God and He cannot be blemished. We all are born sinful.  Good can only come from God. Because of this reason, God cannot have anything to do with us but the blood of Jesus can cleanse us all. So God did something amazing, He sent His son, Jesus, to be born of a virgin, to live a holy, clean, sinless life as a man, being tempted but never sinful. He was pure. He was crucified for our sins, He was the sacrificial lamb that took all our sinfulness and died a horrible, undignified death for all. He was tempted but He remained clean for His Father. He knew just how wonderful God was and that nothing here could compare. There is nothing more important than knowing Jesus as God’s son.

Someday Jesus will return. He is our judge now and God will judge in the end. God offers us the joy of having eternity with Jesus if we are obedient to His Word. Our lives are not our own. We were created to serve a living God. We all are to pray to God for our salvation, that Jesus would save us from the death that we all deserve. The Bible is God’s word, have you read the instruction manual for your life? Read it today, tomorrow, every day, until your time to meet Jesus comes. We should all want to hear, “well done, my good and faithful servant,” not, “depart from me, I never knew you”, nothing else has more importance in our life, than this.

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