AUSTIN -- Funeral services were held Wednesday for Senior Deputy Jessica Hollis, the Travis County sheriff's deputy whose patrol car was swept away in flood waters last week.
Hollis' colleagues and friends gave eulogies at the service, sharing their memories of Hollis and stories of her hard work.
Hollis' funeral was held at the Hill County Bible Church on Ranch Road 620. Graveside services will be held at the Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Cemetery.
Law enforcement officials are asking residents to expect traffic delays between 8 a.m. and noon on Wednesday. Hollis' body will be escorted from the funeral home to the church starting at 8 a.m. Wednesday.
The Travis County Sheriff's Office and the Austin Police Department ask those wishing to pay their respects along the route to do so safely.
Procession route from funeral to church (8 a.m.):
Procession route from church to cemetery (after 10 a.m. service):
Hollis, 35, leaves behind her husband, Austin police officer Ricky Hollis, and a 12-year-old son.
According to Hollis' obituary in the Austin American-Statesman, Hollis grew up in San Antonio, went to Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi and Southwest Texas State University to study marine biology. She met her husband while both were serving as EMTs in San Antonio. They later became the second married couple to ever graduate from the Austin Police Academy.
After working for the Austin Police Department, Hollis was recruited by the Travis County Sheriff's Office and recently became a certified master scuba diver with the Travis County dive team.
The American Legion nominated Hollis for "officer of the year" in 2010.
Those who knew her said she was an amazing person who will be missed.
"The pain of a loss like this is indescribable," said Chief Deputy Jim Sylvester, Hollis' colleague. "It's gut-wrenching, because we know every day when we go to work, we may not make it home to our loved ones."
Search crews recovered Hollis' body in Lake Austin on Friday afternoon after two days of extensive searching. Sheriff Greg Hamilton said Hollis was checking a low water crossing in the 3400 block of Fritz Hughes Park Road off of Highway 620 just before 2 a.m. Thursday when she sent out a radio message saying she and her squad car were being swept downstream by flood waters.
The memorial for Hollis continues to grow at the site where she died, with community members placing flowers and cards thanking Hollis for her service in their neighborhood.
In lieu of flowers, the family asked that donations be made to the AY Chihuahua Rescue of Austin. Go here to donate.
