Homer Raiford Collier

1922 - 2012  (89 years)

• Name	Homer Raiford Collier  [1, 2]
  Birth	25 Sep 1922	Melrose, Nacogdoches County, Texas   [1]
  Gender	Male
  Death	17 Feb 2012	Nacogdoches County, Texas   [2]
  Burial	Douglass Cemetery, Douglass, Nacogdoches County, Texas   [2]
  Notes	Obituary Funeral service for Mr. Homer Raiford Collier, 89, of Douglass, Texas will be held on Monday, February 20, 2012, at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Douglass with Bro. John McGuire, Bro. Bobby Whitehead and Bro. Bobby King officiating. Burial will follow at Douglass Cemetery. Mr. Collier was born on September 25, 1922, in Melrose, Texas to the late Alton Terrell and Tommie Inez Walker Collier. He passed away on Friday, February 17, 2012, in Nacogdoches. In 1941 after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Homer went to Orange, Texas where he worked for Consolidated Shipyard, helping build destroyers and battleships for the war, including the USS Aurick. While working there he met his future wife, Eunice Watson and they married on September 1, 1944. Homer and Eunice returned to the family farm in Douglass after the war where they lived until their passing. He went to work for the Singer Sewing Machine Co. in 1949, as a salesman. He later bought the Nacogdoches Singer dealership on East Main in downtown Nacogdoches, where he remained working until his death. Homer was the longest living business owner in downtown Nacogdoches. Homer was an ordained Baptist deacon for 60 years, and he served at First Baptist Church of Douglass until his death. He was also a 65 year Master Mason for Swift Lodge # 678, where his father, Alton Collier and grandfather, Absalom Collier were members before him. Homer had a love for horses and cattle, and he raised them on his farm in Douglass. The animals he trained were sold to clowns for use at rodeos and other venues for entertainment. He enjoyed performing himself with his animals at rodeos and churches. Homer is survived by his daughter, Joyce Rogers of Alto, Texas; three sons, Larry Collier and wife, Diann, Dale Collier and wife, Judy and Dave Collier all of Douglass; three sisters, Laura Hand, Lois Carlson and JoAnne Whitehead all of Nacogdoches; grandchildren, Kevin Rogers, Carla Absalom, Lelena Rushing, Amanda Arrington, Casey Collier, Michelle Baggett, Ann Tucker, Thomas Collier, Nancy Rice, Lucas Collier and Christine Snyder; twenty six great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and other extended family and good friends. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife of 67 years, Eunice Watson Collier; and three brothers, Cecil, Lenox and Buford Collier. Pallbearers will be Kevin Rogers, Casey Collier, Thomas Collier, Lucas Collier, Nicholas Rushing, Hunter Rothenberger, Adam Lawson, Josh Lawson, Tyler Tucker, Fred Athey and George Stokes. Visitation will be held on Sunday, February 19, 2012, from 5 until 7 p.m. at Laird Funeral Home. The family would like to extend their warmest thanks to Dr. Charles Page and all the other doctors and staff at Memorial Hospital in Nacogdoches for the kindness and professionalism they bestowed upon Mr. Collier. To offer condolence or to sign an online register book please log onto lairdfh.net. Laird Funeral Home. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dailysentinel/obituary.aspx?n=homer-raiford-collier&pid=155944139
  Person ID	I39738	Strong Family Tree
  Last Modified	16 Oct 2012

  
  

  Father	Alton Terrell Collier,   b. 30 Jul 1896, Melrose, Nacogdoches County, Texas d. 6 Apr 1961, Nacogdoches County, Texas (Age 64 years)
  Mother	Tommie Inez Walker,   b. 16 Nov 1899, Texas d. 29 Aug 1977, Nacogdoches, Nacogdoches County, Texas (Age 77 years)
  Family ID	F12044	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Eunice Watson,   b. 10 Feb 1924, Clarksville, Red River County, Texas d. 25 May 2011, Nacogdoches, Nacogdoches County, Texas (Age 87 years)
  Marriage	1 Sep 1944	Orange County, Texas   [2]
  Family ID	F12045	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	4 May 2012

  
  

• Event Map

  Marriage - 1 Sep 1944 - Orange County, Texas Death - 17 Feb 2012 - Nacogdoches County, Texas  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Sources

  [S564] 1930 United States Federal Census [Ancestry.com. database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2002., (Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626, 2,667 rolls. Containing records for approximately 123 million Americans, the 1930 United States Federal Census is the largest census released to date and is the most recent census available for public access. The census gives us a glimpse into the lives of Americans in 1930, and contains information about a household?s family members and occupants including: birthplaces, occupations, immigration, citizenship, and military service. The names of those listed in the census are linked to actual images of the 1930 Census.), Texas, Nacogdoches County, Pr. 1 Enumerated April 15, 1930 ED 174-4 SD 12 Sheet 7A Stamped 68 133-135 (Reliability: 3). [S873] Find A Grave [database online]; http://www.findagrave.com/, (Thousands of contributors submit new listings, updates, corrections, photographs and virtual flowers every hour to the FIND A GRAVE website. When it comes to administrating, building and maintaining the site, Find A Grave is largely operated by its founder, Jim Tipton.).