Oscar LeRoy Hollis
1/17/1929 - 3/21/2022
Oscar LeRoy Hollis passed away on March 21, 2022. He will be greatly missed and forever in our hearts. He leaves behind his wife of 71 years, Joan Kirkland Hollis; daughters, Holly Cowley (Scott) and Cindy Cathcart (Duncan), daughter-in-law Mary Hollis; grandsons Joshua, Bryce (Kelsey) and Nicholas Cathcart, David Cowley (Casey) and great granddaughters Kayda Cathcart and Kathryn Fulsom. He was predeceased by his son Joe Dan Hollis.
LeRoy was born in Alva, Oklahoma on January 17, 1929 to Edna and Oscar Hollis. The youngest of five children, he was loved and teased by his four older sisters Ealon, Gwen, Daphne and DeAnn. LeRoy graduated from Alva High School and attended Northwestern State College in Alva for two years. He married his "better half", Joan Kirkland, in 1950 while in college at Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State) University. He graduated with a Bachelor Science degree in Chemistry and a Master's Degree in Biochemistry. He began his career in Richland, Washington as a Junior Scientist with the General Electric Co. Hanford Atomic Products Operation in 1952. In 1956 he moved his family to Lake Jackson, Texas to take a position as a chemist for Dow Chemical. While working as a Senior Research Chemist, Research Specialist and Associate Scientist LeRoy was granted patents assigned to Dow and won several awards in the field of chemistry. His most noted work was the development of Porous Polymers for gas chromatographic packing and other gas-liquid chromatography techniques. This work was used in applications across many industries world-wide. After retirement from Dow Chemical LeRoy spent a year as a visiting professor teaching Chemistry at Oklahoma State.
LeRoy chose to follow Christ at a young age while attending the Christian Church in Alva, Oklahoma. He taught the young adult Sunday school class at the First Methodist Church in Lake Jackson for many years. The class met in the only upstairs classroom in the church and was called the NMGTT Class (Nearer my God to Thee). In later years he taught and led singing in the Men's Sunday School class. He took pride in being part of the sausage cooking crew at the annual Methodist Men's BBQ. He loved singing hymns, especially lively ones from the Cokesbury Hymnal. He was a lay minister who filled in for pastors in the area when called on. He encouraged several people to enter the ministry, recognizing their faith and gifts.
LeRoy enjoyed traveling with Joan, golfing with friends and family, and family reunions with his sisters. He encouraged Dan's ability to fix things and tinker with cars. He coached Cindy's softball teams, and cheerfully hauled Holly and carloads of her friends to Brazoswood football games and other events. He led the family on camping adventures from Texas across the west to Washington State.
When his grandsons began participating in sports and music, LeRoy became their most enthusiastic fan. He attended innumerable baseball, soccer, basketball and football games, band, jazz and symphony concerts. He always had a snack or piece of candy in his pocket to slip to a grandson between innings or at halftime along with word of encouragement and praise. He was so very proud of them.
To make a point or just to start a conversation LeRoy often quoted a short poem or used one of the many "sayings" he liked. The family call these "LeRoy-isms" and use them regularly and fondly. He would tell you today "It's a great day for the race……the Human Race!"
Many thanks to the staff at Carriage Inn for their dedication to dad while he was in their care. They are a blessing to our family.
LeRoy's family will celebrate his life privately. If you wish to remember him with a memorial donation, the family suggests Covenant Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Lake Jackson, or a charity of your choice.
Obituary Provided By:
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