Hollis D. Kirkland, Sr., 65, of Bay City died June 11, 2006. He was born July 1, 1940 in Bay City to Walter Maine and Esther Naomi Morris Kirkland. Hollis attended Bay City Public Schools from the first grade thru the eleventh. During High School he began working at Taylor Bros. Funeral Home. In 1960 he enrolled in the Dallas Institute-Gupton Jones Mortuary School and graduated in 1961. He worked as a funeral director and embalmer in Galveston, Texas; Dyersburg, Tennessee and Dayton, Texas before accepting a position with Taylor Bros. Funeral Home in Bay City from 1970 to 1976. After working in the Insurance Business in Louisiana, he returned to his life's work as a funeral director with Taylor Bros. In 1979 and remained there until his death. He served as Funeral Director In Charge for the Palacios Funeral Home for many years.

Hollis joined the Bay City Lions Club over 26 years ago. He served as Lion Tamer, Tail Twister and served on the Board of Directors several times. He worked as a member of the Rice Festival Committee several times and served as Bingo Chairperson for over 20 years. He was also a very active member of The Bay City Coastalaires. He touched the lives of many during his years at Taylor Bros.

Survivors include his wife, Beverly Joice Kirkland of Bay City; sons Hollis D. "Kirk" Kirkland, Jr. and wife Maria of Bay City and Bryan Keith Coston Kirkland of Bay City; grandchildren Christian N. Kirkland, Christopher Ferina and Brenda Valencia all of Bay City; mother of his children Linda Sue Kirkland of Lacamp, Louisiana; mother-in-law Edith Joice of Bay City; his wife's children April and husband Lonnie Jones and their children, Mollie, Dustin and Bethany of Birmingham, AL, Amber Siptak of Birmingham, AL and AshLee Rutledge of Knoxville, TN. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Jane Gayle Kirkland and brother David Kirkland.

Funeral service will be 4:00 PM Thursday, June 15, 2006 at the First Baptist Church in Bay City with Rev. Sam Starks and Rev. Marvin Moore officiating. Interment will follow at Hawley Cemetery in Blessing. Pallbearers will be Simon DeSoto, Adrian Fulton, Charles Townsend, James Starks, Larry Dulany, George Agnew. Honorary pallbearers include his co-workers from Taylor Bros. Funeral Home, members of the Bay City Coastalaires, members of the Bay City Lions Club, Darrell Rutledge, Jimmy Garza, Stephen Morrow, Harvey Wallace and Jimmy Morrow. Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.taylorbros.net. Memorials may be made to the Bay City Coastalaires c/o Thomas Pivonka, 3106 15th St., Bay City, TX 77414. Arrangements are with Taylor Bros. Funeral Home in Bay City. 979-245-4613.