Hollis Ray Tapp

Hollis Ray Tapp was born on March 25, 1940, to Raymond Tapp and Merle Tapp and was raised in Mabank. He had two sisters Sheila who he always affectionately called “Skeet” and his little sister Cherry. He loved them and would love to tell stories about their growing up years. He attended Mabank High School and was a member of the Mabank Football Team. He met the "love of his life" Lila Baker, and they were married in June 1961. They had two sons Mike and David, and they were blessed to have 62 years together filled with love and laughter before her passing almost exactly a year to the day of his passing. He couldn’t make it any longer without his Lila. David and Lanna gave Hollis his two greatest treasures... his granddaughters Krista and Ashley or as he liked to call them “his girls”.

He graduated from the University of Texas in Austin and received his degree in Mathematics. He could have easily gone into the private sector and had many offers but his love for teaching overrode them all. He was an educator and taught for over 42+ years in many districts including Mabank ISD, Lancaster ISD and Spruce High School and in fact loved it so much he came out of retirement once or twice. He loved to teach and enjoyed seeing his former students around Mabank. That love of education continued throughout his life and he could still often be found at the kitchen table “ciphering” some mathematics problems just for the pure love of it. Mathematics was much like him solid and steady, and you could always count on him.

He especially loved helping kids learn and helped many “make it thru” their math classes, including “his girls” because they unfortunately inherited their mom side of the whole mathematical abilities’ equation instead of their dad’s side.

As most of know who knew Hollis knew he loved many things in life including his family, his cats, his cows, working his land and his big mason jar of iced tea. He guarded that tea with his life on many occasions. He once slipped and fell on his stomach in the cafeteria at school but somehow managed to save the tray just for the fact that he had a big glass of tea on it… not one drop of tea was spilled that day.

Everyone who knew him remembers his dry sense of humor and his love for his Lila. He was quieter than her by nature and with a drier sense of humor but loved to just sit back and watch her shine.. he might shake his head a time or two but he always had a smile for her.

Krista will always remember Papaw being patient and having encouraging words when she needed them the most and in fact she has continued the family tradition in Public School Education. Ashley will remember their shared love of animals, especially cats of which they would talk about in length and he love to hear “Ashley Tales” and looking at all her artwork. They were truly blessed to have had his calm and loving patience in their life.

He leaves behind his son David, daughter-in-law Lanna; granddaughters Krista and Ashley; sister Sheila Rowan, who was a true God send at the end of his life as she was at the end of Lila’s life; and sister-in-law Dorothy Baker. He also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews that he loved dearly.

Hollis passed away on January 23, 2025 and was preceded in death by his mother, father, wife Lila, son Mike Tapp, sister Cherry Gage, brother-in-law Johnny Gage, brother-in-law Donnie Rowan, brother-in-Law Kenneth Baker, brother-in-law Donny Baker, brother-in-law Larry Baker, and sister-in-law Mary Baker.

The visitation will be held from 11 a.m.-12 noon on Tuesday, January 28th, 2025 at the funeral home. The Graveside Funeral Service will be held at 12:30 p.m. immediately following the visitation at Oaklawn Cemetery in Mabank, Texas. His pallbearers will be Brad Godwin, Brett Martin, Eric Johnson, Jimmy Warner, Charlie Thomas and Tony Bonham. Honorary Pallbearers will be Les Cross and, Bryan Whatley. Brother Kerry Clark will lead the Graveside Services and Brother Dennis Thomas will lead the Singing. Funeral Floral Arrangements by Hollis’ niece Susan Piland.