Colleen Talbot

Colleen Talbot

Colleen Talbot died peacefully at home September 25 at age 93 after a long decline due to Alzheimers. Colleen was born July 24, 1922 in Decatur, Illinois, to Dorothy Miller Collins and Walter Clark Collins. Her father died when she was four and she was raised by her mother and stepfather Orville Kendall "Doc" Reynolds in Norman, Oklahoma. At 17 she eloped with 19-year-old James W. Gray, Jr. and their daughter Carol was born in 1940. After their divorce, Colleen worked as a Rosie the Riveter during WWII.

Colleen had a close relationship with several Osage people and lived for a time in Fairfax, Osage County, Oklahoma, where she was a doctor's assistant.

During the Korean War, Colleen worked as a dental assistant at (then) Camp Polk, Louisiana, where she met Col. Ralph Talbot III. They were married in 1953 and were stationed in California, notably the Presidio of Monterey, Army Language School. From 1955 to 1959 they were stationed in Montevideo, Uruguay, where Colleen's social graces and creative talents as a hostess were put to excellent use in diplomatic circles.

Upon returning to the USA they were stationed at the Presidio of San Francisco. Just as they were preparing for retirement, Col. Talbot died in 1963.

Colleen moved to Shreveport in 1964 and lived in North Highlands until her death. For several years she worked at her neighbors Norbert and Martha Johnson's Church Insurance Specialists office.

She was well-known at Barksdale AFB Officers Club, where she participated in many activities, including decorating for parties.

Colleen loved making her home beautiful inside and out, and did her own gardening and yard work well into her 70's. She loved dogs including a succession of dachshunds. She loved music, almost always had the radio on and often sang along. Colleen was an excellent ballroom dancer and loved a good party.

Colleen Talbot is survived by her daughter, Carol Talbot Graywing, of the home, granddaughter Lauren D. Gaddy and husband Howard B. Gefen and great -grandson Jackson Gaddy Gefen of Seattle, stepson Ralph Talbot IV and wife Betty of San Antonio, their son and daughter -- Ralph Talbot V and Deanna Patterson and husband Mark -- and four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Colleen's cremains will be buried with her husband Ralph at the Presidio of San Francisco National Cemetery. A memorial service will be held Saturday, October 17, 3:30 pm, at All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church, 9449 Ellerbe Rd., Shreveport.

The family would like to thank Recshell Williams and Anna Womack for their care of Ms. Colleen these last months. Thanks also to Harmony Hospice, notably Rosalie Ball and Brother Buck Furlow.

The family suggests, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Pet Savers Shreveport, or to the USO, or to All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church.