Sylvia Alice Collier's Obituary
Sylvia Collier
Funeral services for Sylvia Collier, 72, of Longview will be 10 AM Friday, July 1, 2011 at the First United Methodist Church with Rev. Mike Schutz officiating under direction of Rader Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Memory Park Cemetery. Mrs. Collier passed away Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at her home surrounded by her family, after a long battle against cancer.
Mrs. Collier was born December 13, 1938, in Gilmer, Texas to Curtis and Alice Billingslea. She attended Gilmer High School and North Texas State University before settling in Longview as an English teacher at Longview High School in 1960. Sylvia married Joe Collier on November 22, 1962. Together they have happily shared their lives in work and play; raising their children and grandchildren; and abundant family, social, church, and community activities.
Mrs. Collier was an active leader and volunteer in Longview, serving as President of the Junior League, President of the Longview Council of Garden Clubs and on the Board of the Longview Parks and Recreation Department. She was heavily involved in the Longview Independent School District and served in rolls from Room Mother, to PTA President, to sponsor of Junior Historians as well as serving as an elected member of the LISD School Board.
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, where she performed various duties including Worship Chairman and Wedding Coordinator. The friendships Sylvia and Joe made in their many years as members of the Waddell Class at First United Methodist Church were cherished. Friends and family were always touched by Sylvia's sweet, generous spirit, and her warm, gracious nature. She was always willing to serve others, and her personality could light up any room. She loved the Lord and let His light shine through her to others.
Sylvia will probably be best remembered as a loving wife in the stands at the Longview Boys Baseball Association games for over 25 years, rooting on Joe and the many boys he coached over those years.
Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, Joe; her son, Patrick Collier and his wife, Karen of Houston; her daughter, Blair and her fiancé', Joseph Parameter of Hallsville. "Nanna" loved her grandchildren and was so proud of them. Grandchildren are PJ Collier of Houston, Clark Orren and Evan Orren of Hallsville. She is survived by her brother, Tom Billingslea and his wife, Mae of Longview; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Alice Collier, Pat and Mary Ann Collier, and Mike and Doris Collier all of Longview. She was known as "Sweet Aunt Sylvia" to many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday evening from 6 until 8 PM.
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