- Date Of Birth: January 29, 1942
- Date Of Death: August 7, 2020
- State: Michigan
Graham F. Hollis, Kalamazoo, MI (age 78) passed away Friday, August 7, 2020. He was born January 29, 1942, in Saginaw, MI to the late Paul and Helen (Zimmerman) Hollis and was the oldest of his surviving siblings, Paula and Glen. Graham graduated in 1960 from Arthur Hill High School, Saginaw, MI and matriculated to Central Michigan University receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and later earning a Master’s Degree from Western Michigan University. His career of 40+ Years were spent teaching a number of subjects at Plainwell High School, history being his first love including Advanced Placement US History.
Upon his last year of teaching, the Senior Class voted to have him as their Guest Speaker for their Graduation Ceremonies. After he retired, Graham often would have former students approach him and tell him how he had influenced them in a number of positive ways. Graham often described his goals throughout life from a quote from Robert Browning, “A Man’s Reach Should Exceed His Grasp”. His wish was to keep reaching out to grasp things and the unknown onto his last days. By many who knew him, he was considered to be a Renaissance Man as well as a Gentleman.
Graham was creative in a number of ways and had a thirst for knowledge and new experiences. If friends wanted to know the answer to about anything, he would have the answer as well as the skills to do about anything. Graham had a number of interests starting back even as a teenager such as the building and operating a ham radio. Later interests included: Bike riding, sailing, hiking (hiking the Appalachian Trail), live theater productions, traveling, making wine, raising bees, writing Haiku (some were published), building furniture, wood carving, and cooking (winning first place in a number of cooking contests), Photography became a major interest with setting up a professional dark room.
A number of Graham’s photos won places in various contests as well as having husband and wife exhibits in a number of photo shows. Graham became known among his peers as an established genealogist writing several books on the topic and spending many hours researching family histories. Graham volunteered many hours, days, and months at Western Michigan University Archives and Regional History Collections in the Old East Hall. He helped to organize and index their records acting as Librarian for Kalamazoo Valley Genealogical Society.
He helped patrons with their genealogy while learning to improve his own research skills. Along with the interest in genealogy, he also developed an interest in writing and joined a writer’s group in Richland, MI. Graham had a winning place in the Richland Community Library’s Art and Writing Contest. To many of his peers, he was an interesting and inspiring man.
Graham is survived by his wife, Mary Lou, and four children, Robert (Cindy) Lowden, Christina (Scott) Haller, Natalie (Rob) Vecker, Cherie (Trey) Smith and grandchildren, Ronin, Eason, Cameron, Ashley, Mike, Daniel, and Iain. As a reflection of his life, he wrote recently that his life has been rewarding, fulfilling, and interesting. He will be missed by many.
