Hollis Eugene Nicely, age 88 of Dahl, Kentucky, passed away Saturday, February 8th, 2025 in Somerset, Kentucky. He was born on the 8thof September,1936, in eastern Pulaski County, to the late Floyd Nicely and Mary Irene Taylor Nicely.

Because his father was severely injured in a farming accident, Hollis had to drop out of school in the 6th grade and work the family farm with his younger brother, Wilbert. When he was fifteen, he left home to go to Indianapolis and work in the factories. He worked for Kennedy Tanks, and then for Chevrolet, saving money to one day return to Pulaski County and buy his own farm, and in 1968 he moved his family to a farm along Buck Creek in Stab, Kentucky.

Except for a handful of years where he worked at Robinson’s Mill in Somerset, he has been a farmer ever since.

He’s preceded in death by his parents, Floyd and Irene, and a sister, Diane.

Hollis is survived by two daughters, Lora (Daniel) Smith and Amy (Brian) Hoard, three grandchildren: Sarah (Justin) Taylor, Christopher Hoard, and Conner Hoard, and a great­ grandson, Rory Taylor.

He is also survived by a brother, Wilbert Nicely, and a sister, Pamela Wilson, as well as nieces Traci McGowan, Robin Nicely, and Janel Joseph, and a nephew, Jamie Wilson.

Despite his abbreviated education, Hollis was a very intelligent man, who taught himself to weld and created inventions to help him on his farm. His daughter, Lora, tells of how he was always building something and when she would ask what it was, he would tell her it was an airplane. He was just teasing. But one day she came home from school and it was an airplane! She was flabbergasted. Well, really, it was a big swing-arm sprayer for his fields, but it sure looked like an airplane and it was awhile before he let her in on the secret.

Hollis was always helpful to his family and neighbors, and he will be much missed in the community and even more by his family.

Visitation will be held on Friday, February 14, 2025 from 11am to 1pm in the Chapel of the Southern Oaks Funeral Home with a funeral service to begin at 1pm with Bro. Kevin Bullock officiating. Burial will follow in Sinking Valley Cemetery. Southern Oaks Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements for Hollis Eugene Nicely.