Estel Eugene "Gene" Hollister

Estel Eugene “Gene” Hollister, 92, passed from this life into the arms of his Lord and Savior on December 22, 2023, at Ascension St John Jane Phillips  Hospital in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, with his family by his side. He was born to Ray Oris Hollister and Goldie May (Thompson) Hollister on October 13, 1931, in Pryor, Oklahoma.

Gene graduated from Avant High School. He went on to join the Army in May of 1952 and served until May of 1954 in the Korean War. Gene married Evelyn Ruth Selby in Pawhuska, OK, on January 3, 1949. They were married until her passing in 2015. Gene and Evelyn had two children together: Kyle and Kristen.

Gene had another chance at love when he married Joyce Sellars on December 10, 2017, at the Watova Baptist Church. From this marriage, Gene gained his stepchildren: Pam, Christopher, and Jason.

Gene worked for Phillips Petroleum for 42 years as the Supervisor of Special Projects. He had many interests throughout the years which included calf roping, rodeos, farming cattle, and fishing. Gene loved animals, especially dogs. He participated in the Old Timers Rodeo while he was in his 80s. In his free time, Gene enjoyed hunting armadillos. Gene was a special man, and he never met a stranger. He was a loving husband and family man and he will be missed by not only his family, but everyone who knew him.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents: Ray and Goldie Hollister; his wife: Evelyn Ruth Hollister, his brother: Don Hollister and his great-grandson, Jaymes Estel Hollister.

Those left to cherish the memory of Gene include his wife: Joyce Hollister of Nowata, OK; his children: Kyle Hollister and wife, Janet of Nowata, OK, and Kristen Topping and husband, David of Nowata, OK, his step-children: Pam Pearsall and husband, Donnie of Pryor, OK, Christopher Tole of Florida, and Jason Pierce and wife, Amanda of Delaware, OK; his brother: Ron Hollister of Abilene, TX, his sister-in-law: Darlene Hollister of Daleville, AL; his grandchildren: Jacob Topping, Adam Topping and wife, Jessica, Jayce Hollister and wife, Jennifer, and Kyla Sellers and husband, Josh; his step-grandchildren: Josh Pearsall, Caleb “Zane” Pearsall, Zach Pearsall, Brittany Pearsall, Madison Tole, Garrett Tole, Brycen Tole, Kipton Pierce, and Connor Pierce; 6 great-grandchildren, other family members and many friends.

A funeral service for Estel Eugene “Gene” Hollister will be held on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at 10:00 AM at the New Harmony Baptist Church in Bartlesville with Pastor Lonnie Hoelscher officiating. Interment will follow at the Memorial Park Cemetery in Nowata, Oklahoma. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Gene’s memory can be mailed to the Oglesby Fire Department at 26920 N 4016 Road Ramona, OK 74061. Online condolences may be left at www.honoringmemoriesnowata.com.