Barbara Ellen Hollis

Barbara Ellen Bard Hollis, 94, passed away very peacefully on Tuesday, June 30, 2015 in Brenham, Texas at 7:00 AM. She was born February 13, 1921 to Abel Bard and Alice Jewel Fox Bard in Sioux City, Iowa. She spent her formative years in Omaha, Nebraska and graduated June 5, 1939 from The Saint John High School. The family then moved to Galena Park, Texas. It is there where she met the love of her life, Jodie Mayfield Hollis. They married June 28, 1946. They had a wonderful time there and made life long friends. They were very active in Peace Lutheran Church and School. In 1963 they moved with their two children to a newly developed subdivision in southeast Houston; Meadowcreek Village. There they made many new friends. Barbara’s favorite passion was playing cards and she played many a Bridge game with friends in Meadowcreek. Jodie built a house on Tiki Island near Galveston in the early 1980s where they spent each weekend until his death July 1, 1995. Barbara was devastated but carried on. As Jodie was approaching death, he told her she would be fine because she was “tough”. Boy, he wasn’t kidding. Despite more medical set backs than can be remembered, she recovered and persevered on. She spent about ten years in assisted living at Belmont Village on Holcombe and made friends there. There were no organized bridge games, but she played poker twice a week with a group of “guys”. In September 2013, her health declined, so she had to move to a nursing facility. Julie, her daughter moved her to Brenham Nursing & Rehabilitation Center which was one mile away from Julie’s home. Everytime Julie entered the facility, someone would catch her and say “Have I got a story for you”. The staff found her quite entertaining. She was predeceased by her Husband, Jodie Mayfield Hollis by twenty years, minus one day, her precious son, Joel Hollis, a sister and brother, Victoria and Jack Bard. She is survived by her devoted daughter, Julie Ellen Hollis, one grandchild, Samantha Lea Hollis and a sister, Patricia Quarles. Julie would like to thank all the people that helped her take care of her Mother; Sharon Dodds, Shirley Thomas, Bruce Goodrich and the entire staff at Belmont Village and the entire staff at Brenham Nursing especially, Mabel, Donna, Teresa and Kim. They always put a smile on her face.

The family will receive friends at 11:00am, followed by a celebration of life at 12:00pm, on Tuesday, July 7, 2015 at Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home. Dr. Denny Autrey will be officiating. Please join the family for a reception following the service at Forest Park.