Copeland - John Robert "Bob" Hollingsworth, Jr., 71, died April 18, 2022 at his home, surrounded by his family. He was born on December 26, 1950 in Cleveland, Mississippi, the son of John Robert and Doris Elizabeth (Pannell) Hollingsworth, Sr.

Bob was raised in Shelby, Mississippi, where he attended Shelby High School. He served in the United States Army as a medic with the 82nd Airborne during the Vietnam Era. On July 24, 1978, Bob was united in marriage to Marian Duncan in Inverness, Mississippi. To this union six children were born.

After his service in the Army, Bob was an ag pilot for more than 40 years. Following in the footsteps of his father, who was also an ag pilot, Bob started his career at Hollingsworth Flying Service in Shelby, Mississippi. Like any good crop duster, Bob had many adventures in flying. He crashed in Arkansas, flipping his plane into a rice field; he emergency landed into Area 51 in New Mexico, where he was escorted quickly off the side of a mountain by the US Government; and his landing gear went out during takeoff in Shelby, Mississippi. In 1991, he moved to Kansas and continued his adventures, flying all over the United States spraying everything from pine tress in Georgia to wheat fields in Kansas.

Bob loved playing the blues, making art, buying old cars and never getting rid of them, and effortlessly beating everyone in Jeopardy. But more than anything, Bob loved his family. He will be so incredibly missed.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife Marian of the home; six children, Jess Hollingsworth and wife Amy of Copeland, Elizabeth Hollingsworth-Mulhern of Boise, Idaho, Robert Hollingsworth of Kansas City, Kathryn Massaglia and husband Mike of Wichita, John Hollingsworth and wife Megan of Olathe, and Evangeline Hollingsworth of Copeland; eight grandchildren, Jess Jr., Ember Lee, Connor, August, Louie, Willow, Asher and Jax; a sister, Kathy Kulp of Memphis, Tennessee; and a brother, Scott Hollingsworth of Ridgeland, Mississippi. He is preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral service will be held at Copeland United Methodist Church on Friday April 22, 2022 at 2:00 PM with Pastor Doug Harris presiding. Burial will follow at Evans Cemetery, Montezuma. Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Chapel, Montezuma on Thursday April 21, 2022 from noon to 8:00 PM. Memorials are suggested to Hospice of the Prairie or Spencer C. Duncan-Make It Count Foundation to benefit veterans in care of the funeral home. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.