Hollis Eugene Barnes

BARNES, Hollis Eugene

Was born on June 28, 1941 in McComb, Mississippi to Edward and Mosea Lee Barnes, who have gone on before him. He was the eldest son of their seven children who include Dorothy Hill (who passed away in 1999), Norma Webb, and Ora Troxler of Sacramento, Lovey Barnes of North Hollywood, Ellis and Edward Barnes of Oroville. He is survived by his former wife, LaVerne, and younger son, William of Sacramento. His older son, Eugene, passed in 1984 as a teen. He has five grandchildren - Hollis, Travon, Imani and Makhi and Pearl. Hollis was raised in Oroville, California. He graduated from Oroville High School where he excelled academically and in sports. He received his Bachelor of Arts from California State University, Chico in Social Welfare and continued his education at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) where he received his Master's Degree in Social Welfare. He served as a Lieutenant in the United States Army during the Viet Nam War and continued to work as a civilian for the military heading social service programs throughout the world, including Ulm, Germany. After retiring as a Major, he moved to Klamath Falls, Oregon, and decided to go back to school to pursue his dream of practicing law. He graduated with a Jurist Doctor degree in 2000 at 59 years of age from the University of Oregon. Representing the disenfranchised, he practiced law in Klamath Falls up until the time of his death. He was the eldest male grandchild to Flowers and Lillian Osby, whose 12 children created a very large extended family. Hollis was a role model and inspiration for the entire Osby family in many ways. He was the first to attend and graduate from college and the first attorney in the family. Respected by many, Hollis was known for many admirable qualities including his strong conviction for his beliefs, his sense of fairness and integrity, his trailblazing spirit and his deep love for family. He will also be remembered for his sense of humor, warm smile, dependability and listening ear. Hollis enjoyed traveling, fishing, listening to music and traveled widely to attend concerts, chili and barbeque cook outs. He enjoyed Klamath Falls' Institute of Technology, basketball team, football games and serving on committees in his Klamath Falls community. He also enjoyed traveling in his camper. He will be greatly missed by all whose lives he touched, including his many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. Hollis' funeral service will be held Saturday, Aug. 20, 2005 at 1:00pm at the Sacramento Memorial Lawn located at 6100 Stockton Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95824. The repass will be followed directly at the Veteran's of Foreign Wars Building located at 2784 Stockton Boulevard, Sacramento, CA. Donations may be made in Hollis Barnes' honor to the United Negro College Fund. Tax-deductible checks may be made payable to the United Negro College Fund and mailed to Norma Webb, 1420 Coolbrith Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95822.