Hollis Joslin

Hollis Gordon “Sonny” Joslin, age 56, of Laveen, AZ, formerly of Texas departed this life suddenly and unexpectedly, without suffering, at his home on June 16, 2021. He was born December 5, 1964 in Cleburne, TX, the son of Robert Joslin and Dyanne Horton Welch. Some of his fondest childhood memories were on his grandparents’ farm in Alvarado, TX, tending to his horse, Silver, and the other farm animals. Hollis loved the land and he was the happiest when he was able to tend to his lawn and gardens.
Hollis loved music and spent time with guitar lessons but often played by ear. He enjoyed playing tunes with his son Hollis “Nick”. Another passion of his was writing. He wrote poetry, short stories, political articles, and self-published a novel and had just completed another work of fiction. Hollis was in the process of completing his autobiography and had an offer to have it published.

Hollis loved to challenge himself and completed several full marathons over the years. He participated in runs across the country including San Diego, Fort Worth, Phoenix, Northern Arizona, Minnesota, Massachusetts, and West Virginia. However, his favorite place to visit was Mexico and he and his wife Cheryl often traveled to Puerto Penasco where he got to do his most absolutely favorite things in the world: watch the sunrise with his cup of coffee in hand and walk on the beach at sunset. He said every sunrise and sunset was another miracle granted to us from God. He was a devout Christian man who was dedicated to Jesus and his family.
In his young adult years, Hollis married and gained a daughter, Jessica Nicole, and had 2 children of his own – a daughter, Courtney Brooke, and a son Hollis Nicholas Tyler “Nick”. When the children were young, they all resided in Minnesota and Hollis managed an auto repair shop. He later purchased a franchise and ran his own garage. This led to his move back to his cherished Texas where he opened his own chain of auto repair shops.

While back in Fort Worth, Hollis met Cheryl while she was completing her medical residency. He began a midlife college career at the age of 39 at Tarrant County Community College. They moved to Tucson, AZ, where he completed his Associates degree. While attending college he was able to fulfill another dream which was freedom in the sky and accomplished his aircraft pilot training at Fulton Aviation in Tucson. He then applied to the University of Arizona and double majored in political science/prelaw and Judaic studies. Additionally, he studied international relations abroad in Eastern Europe for one summer. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Univ of Arizona in 2010. Hollis and Cheryl then made a move across the country to Cape Cod, MA where Hollis was accepted to Dartmouth School of Law at the University of Massachusetts. In 2014 Hollis graduated from law school with his Juris Doctorate, Cum Laude. Shortly after graduation, Hollis and Cheryl decided not to partake in another snowy winter on the east coast and moved back to the southwest to reside in Phoenix, AZ. Hollis joined a Phoenix law firm and began his career in law assisting bankruptcy clients. He also worked for a firm specializing in Personal Injury. Eventually, Hollis decided to start his own law firm and spent countless hours helping clients with their financial difficulties.

He leaves in loving memory his wife of 18 years, Dr. Cheryl Wathier, his daughter Jessica Nicole and son in-law Tony of Apple Valley, MN, along with his grandchildren Kaelynn age 6, Antonio Jr. age 4, Ava age 3, and Amiya age 1, his daughter Courtney Brook of Mound, MN, and his son Hollis Nicholas Tyler and daughter in-law Jennifer with grandchildren Hollis Bretton Thomas, age 5, and Scarlett Olivia June, age 2. Additionally, Hollis is survived by his father, Robert Joslin, and his mother Dyanne Welch Horton, along with 3 brothers Robert “Robbie” Joslin, Cary “Dale” Joslin, and Damon “Chip” Joslin along with his sister Tiffany Joslin, and many loving nieces and nephews.

Hollis departed from our lives much too soon and will be dearly missed by the many people he touched so deeply. He was a very loving and giving man who cared with his whole heart. He loved to joke and laugh and spent countless hours on the phone with cherished family and friends nurturing those relationships.

A visitation will be held on Friday, June 25, 2021, from 6-8 pm at the funeral home. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 26, 2021, at 11 am at Crosier-Pearson Cleburne Chapel, 512 N. Ridgeway Drive, Cleburne, TX. Burial to follow at Rosehill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s hospital at www.stjude.org.