Homer Raiford Collier

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

Homer married Eunice Watson on 1 Sep 1944 in Orange County, Texas. Eunice was born on 10 Feb 1924 in Clarksville, Red River County, Texas; died on 25 May 2011 in Nacogdoches, Nacogdoches County, Texas; was buried in Douglass Cemetery, Douglass, Nacogdoches County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

His draft registration for World War I showed him as a resident of Nacogdoches, Texas, and that he was employed by Abb. Collier. He was shown as having Gray eyes and light brown hair.

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JDT2-4H4
name: Alton Collier
death date: 06 Apr 1961
death place: Nacogdoches, Nacogdoches, Texas
gender: Male
race: white
death age: 64 years
estimated birth date:
birth date: 30 Jul 1896
birthplace: Nacogdoches County
marital status: Married
spouse's name:
father's name: A. T. Collier
father's birthplace:
mother's name: Eudora Belle Stewart
mother's birthplace:
occupation: Farming & Dairying
place of residence: Nacogdoches, Nacogdoches, Texas
cemetery: Fairview
burial place: Nacogdoches County, Texas
burial date: 08 Apr 1961
additional relatives: X
film number: 2116713
digital film number: 4166577
image number: 3255
reference number: cn 23443
Collection: "Texas, Deaths, 1890-1976," Alton Collier, 1961

(Research):

Census Listings:

1930 Census
Texas, Nacogdoches County, Pr. 1
Enumerated April 15, 1930
ED 174-4 SD 12 Sheet 7A Stamped 68
133-135
Collier, Alton T Head M W 32 Tx Ga Miss Farmer
Collier, Inez T Wf F W 30 Tx Tx Miss
Collier, Cecil E Son M W 9 Tx Tx Tx
Collier, Homer R Son M W 7 Tx Tx Tx
Collier, Lenox R Son M W 6 Tx Tx Tx
Collier, Laura B Dtr F W 8/12 Tx Tx Tx

Alton married Tommie Inez Walker. Tommie was born on 16 Nov 1899 in Texas; died on 29 Aug 1977 in Nacogdoches, Nacogdoches County, Texas; was buried in Fairview Cemetery, Nacogdoches County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JXZL-9HD
name: Abb Terrell Collier
death date: 02 Apr 1955
death place: Nacogdoches, Nacogdoches, Texas
gender: Male
race: white
death age: 78 years 3 months 19 days
estimated birth date:
birth date: 14 Dec 1876
birthplace: Augusta, Ga.
marital status: Married
spouse's name:
father's name: Robert Terrell Collier
father's birthplace: Ga.
mother's name: Fannie Boman
mother's birthplace: Ga.
occupation: Retired Farmer
place of residence: Nacogdoches, Nacogdoches, Texas
cemetery: Nelrose Cemetery
burial place: Nacogdoches County, Tex.
burial date: 04 Apr 1955
additional relatives:
film number: 2114390
digital film number: 4165535
image number: 1648
reference number: cn 24950
Collection: "Texas, Deaths, 1890-1976," Abb Terrell Collier, 1955

(Research):

Census Listings:

1910 Census
Texas, Nacogdoches County, JP 3
Enumerated 11 May 1910
SD ___ ED 98 Sheet 19A
284-286
Collier, Abb Head M W 33 M1 15 Ga Ga Ga Farmer
Collier, Dora Belle Wf F W 33 M1 15 5/4 Tx Tx Tx
Collier, Alton SonM W 14 S Tx Ga Farm Laborer
Collier, Lula Dtr F W 11 S Tx Ga Tx Farm Laborer
Collier, Christine Dtr F W 7 S Tx Ga Tx
Collier, Pauline Dtr F W 3 S Tx Ga Tx

1920 Census
Texas, Nacogdoches County, JP 3
Enumerated 2 and 4 Feb 1910
SD 326 ED 127 Sheet 18B
367-370
Collier, Abb Head M W 43 M1 15 Ga Ga Ga Farmer
Collier, Bell Wf F W 43 M1 15 5/4 Miss Ala Ala
Collier, Christine Dtr F W 16 S Tx Ga Miss
Collier, Pauline Dtr F W 13 S Tx Ga Miss
Collier, Lora Pearl Dtr F W 7 S Tx Ga Miss
Collier, Douglas Son M W 3 2/12 S Tx Ga Miss

Absalom married Eudora Belle Stewart on 11 Aug 1895 in Nacogdoches County, Texas. Eudora was born on 17 Mar 1877 in Mississippi; died on 22 Feb 1961 in Nacogdoches County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K3S1-F1R
name: Eudora Belle Collier
event: Death
event date: 22 Feb 1961
event place: Nacogdoches, Nacogdoches, Texas, United States
gender: Female
marital status: Widowed
birth date: 17 Mar 1877
birthplace: , Mississippi
father's name: Eli Stewart
mother's name:
certificate number: 17183
film number: 2116712
digital folder number: 005145137
image number: 00303
Collection: "Texas, Deaths (New Index, New Images), 1890-1976," Eudora Belle Collier, 1961

Notes:

Said to be a son of Williamson Collier and Mary Ann Garland.

(Research):
Census Listings:

1880 Census
Georgia, Upson County, Flint District
Enumerated 12 Jun 1880
Page 36 SD 4 ED 137
342-342
Collier, Robt T. W M 44 Farmer Ga Ga Ga
Collier, Frances A W F 39 Wf Keeping House Ga Ga Ga
Collier, Mary E W F 18 Dtr At Home Ga Ga Ga
Collier, John A W M 15 Son At School Ga Ga Ga
Collier, Valera W F 13 Dtr At School Ga Ga Ga
Collier, Annah W F 8 Dtr At Home Ga Ga Ga
Collier, George W M 6 Son At Home Ga Ga Ga
Collier, Absalom T W M 4 Son At Home Ga Ga Ga
Collier, Mabell W F 1 Dtr At Home Ga Ga Ga

Robert married Frances "Fannie" A. Shattles before 1861. Frances was born about 1841 in Georgia; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Her last name is instead shown as BOMAN on the death certificate of son Absalom. Most other sources show this as SHATTLES, including www.Ackerman-Family.com, where she is listed as a daughter of George Shattles and Lucinda Canaday.

http://www.ackerman-family.com/ged/grpf2470.html

Death certificates of several of her other children confirm the name SHATTLES.