Hollie E. Barnes

Hollie E. Barnes, age 42, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, returned to her Creator on August 30, 2024. Hollie was an amazing person who spread light and love everywhere she went. She gave the best hugs! Born on April 6, 1982, in Springfield, Missouri, Hollie was a beautiful, intelligent, adventuresome, creative, and gentle soul. The love she shared with the world flowed from her eyes and her bright, lovely smile. She lived her spirituality and chose to share what she knew with many others.

Her sons, Simon and Ben, were the joys of her life. She relished being their mom! Hollie loved to travel and to show them the joy of traveling. She was happiest when on the beach at Washington Island with her sons and friends. She loved to collect sea glass along the beaches of Lake Michigan, her personal inland ocean. Hollie was also a very gifted artist who loved to paint, draw, and create. She delighted in sharing her love of art with the world. She was an amazing gardener of flowers who saw the beauty in every bloom and in the world around her. Whether that beauty was in a flower, a butterfly, a beautiful sunset, a good book, or a piece of sea glass on the beach, Hollie always found the beauty in her surroundings and in those she encountered in her daily life. Her gentle wisdom and insight helped Hollie make friends anywhere and everywhere.

Hollie's love of literature was as boundless as her own spirit, and L. M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables was a favorite. Like Anne, Hollie possessed an insatiable curiosity, a love for reading, and a zest for life that brightened every room she entered. Anne's words, "Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive--it's such an interesting world. It wouldn't be half so interesting if we knew all about everything, would it? There'd be no scope for imagination then, would there?" echoed Hollie's own curiosity and belief in the boundless potential of the human spirit and the endless beauty of the world around her. Just as Anne searched for kindred spirits, Hollie cherished her sons, family, and close friends, forming bonds that were as deep and enduring as the affection between Anne and those she loved.

Hollie dedicated her life to serving and advocating for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind communities. She most recently served as the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Owner of Professional Interpreting Enterprise (PIE), where she inspired others with her vision of kindness, self-care, and community-building. Before buying PIE, Hollie held the esteemed position of Director for the Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, where her leadership, compassion, and drive for inclusivity left a lasting impact. Prior to this role, Hollie served for 12 years with the Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (WESP-DHH), where she was a School Psychology Consultant and a School Psychologist at the Wisconsin School for the Deaf. Her passion for mental health, particularly in addressing the socio-emotional and behavioral needs of Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind individuals, was a cornerstone of her work. Hollie earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a focus on Neuropsychology, followed by a Masters of Education in Educational and Counseling Psychology from the University of Missouri. As a Deaf professional, Hollie's unique perspective, gentle leadership, and commitment to the well-being of those with whom she worked touched the lives of many, leaving behind a legacy of love, compassion, and deep respect for others.

Let us all be grateful that we were blessed to know and love her.

Hollie is survived by her two sons, Simon and Benjamin; loving parents, Terri (nee Peiter) and Michael Hanks; grandmother, Mary Jane Wyatt; one brother, Mike Hanks and his wife Sarah; partner, Carrie Sitlington; two aunts, Julie Oliver, and Tammy Van Pool; one uncle, Carl Peiter and his wife Melody; great aunt, Gayle Puopolo and her husband Dan; father to her sons and former husband, Paul Spink; her dear friends, Karen Nguyen, Maria Kielma, and Melani Kaplan. She is also survived by many loving cousins, extended family, a multitude of friends, and her pets, Harry, Sarah Jane, and Luna.

A Celebration of Hollie's life and visitation will be held on Saturday, October 5, 2024, from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m., at Rea Funeral Chapel, 3510 W. 16th St. Sedalia, MO. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Hollie's memory are appreciated for the benefit of her children and should be directed to Terri Hanks.