HOLLIS W. HUNT

 

 CLASS OF 1953

JANUARY 25, 1935 - JANUARY 27, 2015

Hollis William Hunt age 80, of Osawatomie, Kansas died Tuesday, January 27, 2015 at the Olathe Hospice House in Olathe, Kansas.

Hollis was born January 25, 1935 in rural Osawatomie, the youngest of two sons born to Azol Darwin and Freda Emily (Gibson) Hunt.

He grew up on his family’s farm and attended school in Osawatomie, graduating from Osawatomie High School with the class of 1953.

Hollis went to work for Hallmark Cards in Kansas City, Missouri for a short time after graduating high school. In 1953 Hollis enlisted in the United States Navy. Hollis was a “Link Trainer” he helped train pilots in an airplane flight simulator. He spent most of his tour in the Navy in Gardner, Kanas at the Olathe Naval Air Station. He was honorably discharge on January 10, 1961.

One May night in 1954 while he was at the roller skating rink in Ottawa, Kansas he met the young woman that would soon become his bride. Hollis married Shirley Ann Johnson on December 5, 1954 at the Methodist Church in Williamsburg, Kanas. They made their home in Ottawa and then later moved to Gardner, Kansas where Hollis was stationed at the Olathe Naval Air Station. In 1958 they moved to Osawatomie, Kansas and became the parents of one son and three daughters. Shirley died May 6, 2014. Hollis and Shirley were married for over fifty-nine years.

After moving back to Osawatomie, Hollis went back to the work he truly loved, farming. He farmed his own land until 1985 when he retired and began to enjoy the easier side of living.

The family took vacations every summer, they loved to travel and to camp when the children were still at home and he and Shirley continued to travel and camp, even camping at nearby Hillsdale lake. In later years Shirley and Hollis traveled to Arizona every winter from 1994 until 2007, where they had a winter home and enjoyed the sun there until spring.

Hollis was a man who enjoyed music and playing his bass guitar, he and a friend who played the piano would go to all the nursing homes in the Osawatomie area and play, and sing for the residents each week. He also belonged to a small band in Arizona, he and a few of the other “snow birds” called their selves “Cactus Country “ and had wonderful times playing their music anywhere they could.

He loved airplanes and received his pilot’s license in 1985. He owned two Piper single engine planes during his lifetime and flew whenever he had the chance, until health reasons forced him to give up his license to fly.

Hollis enjoyed many different hobbies after he was grounded from flying. He did bead work making beautiful Bolero ties and other jewelry, he also like to do woodcarving and was looking forward to learning the art of fishing. But one thing he always did was watch “Wheel of Fortune” on television, which he did one last time with all his children that last Saturday night, a memory they all will cherish.

Hollis was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Shirley and his brother Galen Hunt.

He is survived by son Dan and Erika Hunt of Louisburg, Kansas, and three daughters: Kay and David Oshel of Ottawa, Kansas, Sheri and Bruce Johnson of Nixa, Missouri and Teri and Mark Davis of Manhattan, Kansas. Seven grandchildren, six great grandchildren and numerous friends that will truly miss his smile.

VISITATION: 6-8PM THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 2015

SERVICE: 10AM FRIDAY, JANUARY30, 2015

** ALL SERVICES AT EDDY-BIRCHARD FUNERAL HOME **

BURIAL: OSAWATOMIE CEMETERY, OSAWATOMIE, KANSAS

MEMORIAL: OSAWATOMIE SENIOR CENTER

Memorial may be sent in care of:
Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home
P.O. Box 430
Osawatomie, KS 66064

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