William Hollister: September 27, 1966-May 24, 2022

William “Bill” Hollister was born on September 27, 1966 in Emerson Valley to Clancy and Deena Hollister. He died on May 24, 2022 from a gunshot wound to the chest. Bill was preceded in death by his parents and older brother Martin, and he is survived by his wife Amanda Hollister.

Bill was a great friend, a hard worker, and an overall good man. He loved taking hikes through Blackwood Forest, and would often go after work to clear his head before going home to his loving wife. He was also a bowling fanatic. You could find him at Wilson’s Lanes every weekend during bowling season. His team, the Rolling Pinheads, have topped the league for the past two years.

In his work as a security guard, Bill did more than just protect the town’s money. He protected the people themselves. When an armed robbery occurred in 2017, Bill managed to disarm the would-be thieves and prevent them from hurting anyone or making off with any loot. He received a commendation from then-mayor James Foley for his brave actions.

We will all miss Bill a great deal. As soon as we heard he was dead, we wanted to make sure we honored him properly. For that reason, his friends on the Rolling Pinheads (with permission from his grieving wife) are having a memorial service for him to mourn his tragic passing at 4 PM this Saturday. It will be held at Wilson’s Lanes. We’ll be set up on Lane 5 (our usual lane). For more information, contact the Gazette at emersonvalleygazette@gmail.com.